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:

片仮名は日本語のアルファベットの一部です。

Katakana wa nihongo no arufabetto no ichibu desu

Katakana is part of the Japanese alphabet.

• 片仮名 - Japanese characters used to write words of Japanese origin
• は - Topic particle
• 日本語 - Japanese language
• の - Possessive particle
• アルファベット - alphabet
• の - Possessive particle
• 一部 - part
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

犠牲になることは勇気の証。

Gisei ni naru koto wa yuuki no akashi

Sacrifice is a test of courage.

• 犠牲 (gisei) - sacrifice
• になる (ni naru) - become
• こと (koto) - thing
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 勇気 (yuuki) - courage
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 証 (akashi) - test

猫の尻尾はとてもかわいいです。

Neko no shippo wa totemo kawaii desu

The cat's tail is very cute.

• 猫 (neko) - cat
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 尻尾 (shippo) - Tail
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• とても (totemo) - very
• かわいい (kawaii) - fofo, bonito
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

王様はとても威厳がある。

Ousama wa totemo igon ga aru

The king has a lot of dignity.

The king is very dignified.

• 王様 - Rei
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 威厳 - dignity, authority
• が - subject particle
• ある - exist, have

理性を持って行動することが大切です。

Risei wo motte koudou suru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to act rationally.

It is important to act with reason.

• 理性 (risē) - reason, rationality
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 持って (motte) - Land, possess
• 行動 (kōdō) - action, behavior
• する (suru) - make
• こと (koto) - abstract noun
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 大切 (taisetsu) - important, valuable
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

生きることは素晴らしいことです。

Ikiru koto wa subarashii koto desu

Living is a wonderful thing.

Living is great.

• 生きること - live
• は - Topic particle
• 素晴らしい - amazing
• こと - thing
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

生理現象は女性にとって必要なものです。

Seiri genshō wa josei ni totte hitsuyōna mono desu

Physiological phenomena are necessary for women.

• 生理現象 - physiological phenomenon
• は - Topic particle
• 女性 - Women
• にとって - for
• 必要な - necessary
• もの - thing
• です - is

用心深く行動することが大切です。

Yōjin bukaku kōdō suru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to act with caution and care.

It is important to act with caution.

• 用心深く - carefully
• 行動する - Act
• こと - thing
• 大切 - important
• です - is

留まることはできない。

Tomaru koto wa dekinai

I can't stand still.

I can not stay.

• 留まる - The verb that means "to remain" is "permanecer."
• こと - noun that means "thing"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• できない - verb that means "not being able to"

町を転転と歩く。

Machi wo tenten to aruku

Transfer and walk around the city.

• 町 - means "city" in Japanese.
• を - is an object particle in Japanese, indicating that "city" is the object of the action.
• 転転 - is a Japanese onomatopoeia meaning "to walk with large, heavy steps".
• と - is a connecting particle in Japanese, indicating that "walk" is made with the sound "転転".
• 歩く - means "to walk" in Japanese.