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:

アウトになった。

Autowa ni natta

I was eliminated.

I was out.

• アウト - Out
• に - particle that indicates direction or destination
• なった - Past tense of the verb "naru" which means "to become"

Translation - It became outside.

食べることは生きることだ。

Taberu koto wa ikiru koto da

Eating is living.

Eating is living.

• 食べる - eat
• こと - thing
• は - Topic particle
• 生きる - live
• こと - thing
• だ - Verb "to be"

食料は人間にとって不可欠なものです。

Shokuryō wa ningen ni totte fukaketsu na mono desu

Nutrition is essential to human beings.

Food is essential for human beings.

• 食料 - food
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human being
• にとって - for
• 不可欠 - essential
• な - adjective particle
• もの - thing
• です - is

食費を減らすことができました。

Shokuhi wo herasu koto ga dekimashita

We managed to reduce our spending on food.

I was able to reduce food expenses.

• 食費 (shokuhi) - food expenses
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 減らす (herasu) - reduce
• こと (koto) - abstract noun indicating action or event
• が (ga) - subject particle
• できました (dekimashita) - The past form of the verb "dekiru" which means "to be able to"

飢饉は人々にとって大きな苦しみです。

Kikin wa hitobito ni totte ookina kurushimi desu

Hunger is a great pain for people.

A famine is a great suffering for people.

• 飢饉 (jikin) - extreme hunger, scarcity of food
• は (wa) - topic marker, indicates that what follows is the subject of the sentence
• 人々 (hitobito) - people, human beings
• にとって (nitotte) - for, regarding, from the point of view of
• 大きな (ookina) - great, important
• 苦しみ (kurushimi) - suffering, pain, distress
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

馬鹿は自分が馬鹿であることに気づかない。

Baka wa jibun ga baka de aru koto ni kizukanai

A foolish person does not realize that he is a fool.

The idiot does not realize that he is stupid.

• 馬鹿 (baka) - fool, idiot
• 自分 (jibun) - Yourself
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 馬鹿 (baka) - fool, idiot
• である (dearu) - to be
• こと (koto) - Thing, fact
• に (ni) - Target particle
• 気づかない (kidzukanai) - do not realize

馬鹿馬鹿しいことを言わないでください。

Mou bakabakashii koto wo iwanai de kudasai

Please don't say foolish things.

Don't say ridiculous things.

• 馬鹿 - dumb, stupid
• 馬鹿しい - Foolish, absurd
• こと - thing
• を - object particle
• 言わないで - do not say
• ください - Please

馬鹿らしいことを言わないでください。

Bakarashii koto wo iwanaide kudasai

Please don't say foolish things.

Don't say something stupid.

• 馬鹿らしい - means "ridiculous" or "absurd".
• こと - means "thing" or "subject".
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 言わないで - negative form of the verb "to say" in the imperative, meaning "don't say".
• ください - polite form of the verb "to give", which indicates a request or demand.

静音と思ってください。

Shiin to omotte kudasai

Please think quietly.

Think of it as quiet.

• 静音 - It means "silence" in Japanese.
• と - a Japanese particle that indicates a connection between two sentences or ideas.
• 思って - it is the form of the verb "to think" in the present tense and in the te-form in Japanese.
• ください - It is a polite form of the verb "to give" in Japanese, used to make a request or solicitation.

遅らすことは許されない。

Okurasu koto wa yurusarenai

It is not allowed to delay.

It is not allowed to be postponed.

• 遅らす - verb meaning "to delay" or "to slow down"
• こと - noun meaning "thing" or "fact"
• は - topic particle, which indicates the subject of the sentence
• 許されない - verb in the negative form that means "not being allowed" or "not being tolerated"