Translation and Meaning of: と - to

The Japanese word と [to] is one of the most fundamental and frequently used particles in the language. If you are learning Japanese, you have certainly come across it in basic sentences or even in more complex dialogues. In this article, we will explore its meaning, common uses, and how it fits into the grammatical structure of Japanese. Moreover, we will look at some curiosities about how this small particle can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

If you have already used the Suki Nihongo dictionary, you know that it is a great tool for understanding words and particles like と. Here, we go beyond simple translation and dive into the details that make this particle so essential for communication in Japan. Shall we begin?

The basic meaning and usage of と

The particle と has as its main function to indicate companionship or connection between elements. In English, it can be translated as "and" or "with," depending on the context. For example, in the phrase "りんごとバナナ" (ringo to banana), it means "apple and banana," joining the two items in a list.

Another common use is to express joint action, as in "友達と映画を見た" (tomodachi to eiga o mita), which means "I watched a movie with a friend." Note how と establishes a relationship between the mentioned people or objects, creating a clear connection in the sentence.

The origin and evolution of と

Linguistic studies indicate that と comes from ancient Japanese, where it already served similar functions to the current ones. Unlike many particles that have undergone significant changes over the centuries, と has maintained its form and basic use practically unchanged since the Heian period (794-1185).

Interestingly, research shows that と is one of the oldest particles still in continuous use in modern Japanese. Its simplicity and versatility explain why it has stood the test of time, appearing even in some of Japan's oldest texts.

Tips for using と correctly

A common confusion among students is when to use と instead of other particles like や (ya) or に (ni). Remember: と indicates a complete list or a specific joint action, while や suggests an incomplete list. For example, "本とノート" (hon to nōto) specifically means "book and notebook," without other implied items.

To better memorize, try to associate と with the symbol of a link or chain, as it always connects elements in a direct and explicit way. Another tip is to pay attention to dialogues in anime or Japanese dramas, where と appears frequently in everyday conversations.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 無論 (muron) - Without a doubt
• 当然 (touzen) - Naturally; Of course
• なんといっても (nanto ittemo) - In any case; Above all
• そうだろう (sou darou) - That's not how it is, right?
• そうに決まっている (sou ni kimatteru) - Sure it is like that.
• そうだと思う (sou da to omou) - I think it's like this.
• そう思う (sou omou) - I think like this
• そうでしょう (sou deshou) - Isn't it true?
• そうですね (sou desu ne) - This is true, isn’t it?
• そうだね (sou da ne) - That's right, isn't it?
• そうだよね (sou da yo ne) - That's right, isn't it?
• そうだよな (sou da yo na) - That's right, isn't it?
• そうだな (sou da na) - Yes, that's right
• そうかな (sou kana) - Is it like this?
• そうだろうか (sou darou ka) - Is it like this?
• そうだとすれば (sou da to sureba) - If that's the case
• そうだとしたら (sou da to shitara) - If this is true
• そうなら (sou nara) - If that's the case
• そうならば (sou naraba) - If that's the case
• そういうことだ (sou iu koto da) - That's how it is
• そういうことになる (sou iu koto ni naru) - It will reach that point.
• そういうことになっている (sou iu koto ni natteiru) - It is defined like this
• そういうことになった (sou iu koto ni natta) - This happened
• そういうことになると (sou iu koto ni naru to) - If this happens
• そういうことになると思う (sou iu koto ni naru to omou) - I think it's going to be like this.

と

Romaji: to
Kana: と
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: 1. if (conjunction); 2. Promoted pawn (shogi) (ABBR)

Meaning in English: 1. if (conjunction); 2. promoted pawn (shogi) (abbr)

Definition: "To" is a conjunction that expresses a connection between sentences or words.

Example Sentences - (と) to

See below some example sentences:

歯車がうまくかみ合わないと機械は動かない。

Haguruma ga umaku kamiawanai to kikai wa ugokanai

If the gears do not fit well

If the gears are not involved well, the machine will not work.

• 歯車 (haguruma) - gear
• が (ga) - subject particle
• うまく (umaku) - skillfully, well
• かみ合わない (kamiawanai) - not fitting in, not adjusting
• と (to) - conditional particle
• 機械 (kikai) - machine
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 動かない (ugokanai) - not moving, not working

歯を磨くことは大切です。

Ha wo migaku koto wa taisetsu desu

It is important to brush your teeth.

• 歯を磨くこと - the action of brushing the teeth
• は - Topic particle
• 大切 - important, valuable
• です - verb to be in the polite form

気付くことが大切です。

Kizuku koto ga taisetsu desu

It's important to realize.

It is important to note.

• 気付く - A verb that means "perceive" or "notice".
• こと - noun meaning "thing" or "fact"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 大切 - Adjective meaning "important" or "valuable".
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or respectful form of the sentence

水平を保つことが大切です。

Suhei wo tamotsu koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to maintain horizontality.

It is important to keep it horizontal.

• 水平 - horizontal
• を - particle indicating the object of an action
• 保つ - to maintain
• こと - nominalizer indicating a thing or concept
• が - partícula que indica o sujeito de uma frase
• 大切 - importante
• です - copula que indica polidez

気触れる人とは付き合いたくない。

Kizureru hito to wa tsukiaitakunai

I don't want to associate with the people I feel.

• 気触れる人 - person who is easily offended or irritated
• とは - particle that indicates a defining or explanatory relationship
• 付き合いたくない - I don't want to have a relationship

汚れを取り除くことは大切です。

Aburé o torinozoku koto wa taisetsu desu

It is important to remove dirt.

• 汚れ - Dirt
• を - direct object particle
• 取り除く - remove, clean
• こと - abstract noun indicating action or event
• は - Topic particle
• 大切 - important
• です - verb to be in the present affirmative

沸騰した湯でお茶を入れると美味しいです。

Futtou shita yu de ocha wo ireru to oishii desu

It is delicious to add tea with boiling water.

• 沸騰した - fervent
• 湯 - hot water
• お茶 - tea
• 入れる - place
• 美味しい - delicious
• です - is

法律に違反すると罰せられる。

Hōritsu ni hihan suru to basserareru

You will be punished if you break the law.

• 法律 (hou ritsu) - law
• に (ni) - particle that indicates action or destination
• 違反する (i han suru) - violate, infringe
• と (to) - particle indicating condition or consequence
• 罰せられる (batsu serareru) - ser punido

法学を学ぶことは社会に貢献するために重要です。

Hougaku wo manabu koto wa shakai ni kouken suru tame ni juuyou desu

The apprenticeship law is important to contribute to society.

• 法学 - study of law
• 学ぶ - learn
• こと - thing
• 社会 - society
• 貢献 - contribution
• する - make
• ために - for
• 重要 - important
• です - is