目錄
Japanese 「〜し」 can be used to list reasons, but it can also leave a sentence hanging at a point where “there is still more left unsaid.” In Chinese, it is often translated as “而且, 又, 也,” so it is easy to treat it as an ordinary conjunction. However, 「この部屋は広いし、明るいです」 and 「この部屋は広くて明るいです」 do not sound exactly the same. The former feels as though the speaker is presenting the room’s features one by one, while the latter simply connects two states. Listing reasons, leaving an implication at the end of a sentence, and distinguishing 「〜し」 from 「〜から／〜て」 are the three areas that need to be considered separately when learning this form.
What Does Japanese 「〜し」 Mean? It Does More Than Mean “And” or “Also”
The core function of 「〜し」 is enumeration. It can list two or more reasons, or it can present only one reason while leaving the implication that “there are other reasons as well.” In Chinese, it is often translated as “而且,” “又,” or “也,” but in Japanese its nuance is closer to “one reason is that…”
For this reason, 「安いし、おいしいです」 has a stronger sense of listing reasons than 「安くておいしいです」. Likewise, 「今日は雨だし、出かけるのはやめましょう」 does not merely connect two pieces of information. It presents “it is raining” as one reason and uses it to make a judgment or suggestion in a softer way.
Japanese 「〜し」 Conjugation Rules: Plain Forms, 「だし」, and 「ですし」
「〜し」 attaches to plain forms. Verbs and い-adjectives take 「し」 directly, while な-adjectives and nouns normally take 「だし」. In polite sentences, the sentence as a whole may end in 「です／ます」, but the form before an intermediate 「し」 is often plain. Beginners frequently make mistakes such as saying 「便利し」 or 「学生し」. The correct forms are 「便利だし」 and 「学生だし」.
| Part of Speech | Plain-Style Connection | Polite-Style Connection | Example |
| Verb | Plain form＋し | ます form＋し | 歩けるし／歩けますし |
| い-adjective | い-adjective＋し | い-adjective＋ですし | 安いし／安いですし |
| な-adjective | Stem＋だし | Stem＋ですし | 便利だし／便利ですし |
| Noun | Noun＋だし | Noun＋ですし | 休日だし／休日ですし |
Usage ① of 「〜し」｜Listing Multiple Reasons or Grounds for a Judgment
The most basic function of 「〜し」 is to list reasons. A sentence can use the structure 「Aし、Bし」 to present multiple reasons before giving a conclusion. This sounds more natural than repeatedly using 「Aから」 because the reasons are not presented as one single absolute cause. Instead, several reasons work together to support the judgment that follows.
- Example: この店は安いし、おいしいし、よく来ます.
Kana: このみせは やすいし、おいしいし、よく きます.
Translation: This place is inexpensive and the food is good, so I come here often.
「安いし、おいしいし」 lists several reasons that support the conclusion 「よく来ます」. - Example: 駅から近いし、部屋も広いし、このホテルにしましょう.
Kana: えきから ちかいし、へやも ひろいし、このホテルにしましょう.
Translation: It is close to the station, and the room is spacious too, so let’s choose this hotel.
The two reasons together make the choice sound more convincing. - Example: 説明は分かりやすいし、例文も多いし、この本は便利です.
Kana: せつめいは わかりやすいし、れいぶんも おおいし、このほんは べんりです.
Translation: The explanations are easy to understand, and there are plenty of example sentences, so this book is useful.
「し」 allows the advantages to be presented naturally one by one, almost like a list.
Usage ② of 「〜し」｜Giving Only One Reason While Leaving Other Possibilities Open
「〜し」 can also be used with only one stated reason. In this use, it often carries the nuance of “there are other reasons too, but this is the one I am mentioning now,” making it softer than 「から」. In everyday conversation, this use is common when speakers want to avoid making their reasoning sound too absolute.
- Example: 今日は雨だし、家で休みましょう.
Kana: きょうは あめだし、いえで やすみましょう.
Translation: It is raining today too, so let’s stay home and rest.
「雨だし」 sounds like one reason among several. Other unstated reasons might include being tired or the weather being cold. - Example: 時間も遅いし、そろそろ帰りましょう.
Kana: じかんも おそいし、そろそろ かえりましょう.
Translation: It is getting late too, so let’s head home soon.
「遅いし」 makes the suggestion sound softer than a more direct statement. - Example: 明日は試験だし、今日は早く寝ます.
Kana: あしたは しけんだし、きょうは はやく ねます.
Translation: I have an exam tomorrow, so I am going to bed early today.
「試験だし」 is not necessarily the only reason, but it is enough to support the decision to go to bed early.
Usage ③ of 「〜し」｜Using It at the End of a Sentence and Leaving the Conclusion Unsaid
In everyday speech, 「〜し」 also often appears at the end of a sentence, leaving a lingering sense of “there are other reasons anyway.” The speaker does not necessarily state the conclusion, but the listener can infer the speaker’s position from the context. This is very conversational and may carry a slight sense of complaint, justification, or soft supplementation.
- Example: この店、安いし.
Kana: このみせ、やすいし.
Translation: This place is cheap too, you know.
Sentence-final 「し」 implies that there are other advantages as well and may be supporting the idea of choosing this place. - Example: 今日は寒いし.
Kana: きょうは さむいし.
Translation: It is cold today too, you know.
This may be explaining why the speaker does not want to go out. The reason is left unfinished, but the sentence still sounds natural. - Example: まだ時間はあるし.
Kana: まだ じかんは あるし.
Translation: We still have time too.
Sentence-final 「し」 gives the sentence a reassuring or supplementary tone rather than a rigid conclusion.
What Is the Difference Between Japanese 「〜し」, 「〜から」, and 「〜て」? A Nuance Comparison
「〜し」 tends to list reasons and often suggests that other reasons exist as well. 「〜から」 presents a clear cause and tends to sound more direct. 「〜て」 is commonly used to connect or coordinate states and actions and does not necessarily carry a sense of reason. All three can connect parts of a sentence, but their focus differs.
| Comparison Point | 〜し | 〜から | 〜て |
| Core Function | Listing reasons | Clear cause | Coordination or connection |
| Tone | Soft, leaves room | Direct, with a clear causal relationship | Neutral |
| Implies Other Reasons? | Often | Less often | Not necessarily |
| Example | 雨だし、帰ろう | 雨だから、帰ろう | 安くておいしい |
▌Use 「〜し」 When Listing Multiple Reasons One by One
❌ Too repetitive: この店は安いから、おいしいから、便利です.
✅ Natural: この店は安いし、おいしいし、便利です.
When several reasons are listed, 「し」 sounds more natural than repeating 「から」.
▌Use 「〜から」 When Stating a Direct Cause
❌ Too loose in nuance: 電車が止まったし、遅れました.
✅ Natural: 電車が止まったから、遅れました.
If you want to clearly state why you were late, 「から」 is more direct than 「し」.
▌Use 「〜て」 When Neutrally Connecting Two States
❌ Too much of a reason-listing nuance: この部屋は広いし明るいです.
✅ Natural: この部屋は広くて明るいです.
If you simply want to describe the room as both spacious and bright without presenting them as reasons, 「て」 is more neutral.
How Is 「〜し」 Used in Everyday Japanese? Suggestions, Refusals, and Additional Reasons
In everyday Japanese conversation, 「〜し」 is often used to soften the tone. It can make a suggestion sound less direct, leave room when refusing something, or imply at the end of a sentence that there are other reasons as well. This kind of implied, unfinished quality fits well with the indirectness often found in Japanese conversation.
▌Situation ①｜Listing the Advantages of a Restaurant
A：この店は駅から近いし、料理もおいしいです.
このみせは えきから ちかいし、りょうりも おいしいです.
This place is close to the station, and the food is good too.
B：では、この店にしましょう.
では、このみせに しましょう.
Then let’s choose this place.
📌 Grammar Point: 「近いし、料理もおいしい」 gives multiple reasons that support the choice.
▌Situation ②｜Suggesting That It Is Time to Go Home
A：時間も遅いし、そろそろ帰りましょう.
じかんも おそいし、そろそろ かえりましょう.
It is getting late too, so let’s head home soon.
B：そうですね。明日も早いですし.
そうですね。あしたも はやいですし.
That’s true. We have to get up early tomorrow too.
📌 Grammar Point: 「し」 makes the reason sound like an added consideration, making the suggestion less abrupt.
▌Situation ③｜Explaining Why You Are Turning Down an Invitation
A：今から映画に行きませんか.
いまから えいがに いきませんか.
Would you like to go see a movie now?
B：今日は疲れていますし、また今度にしましょう.
きょうは つかれていますし、また こんどに しましょう.
I’m tired today, so let’s do it another time.
📌 Grammar Point: 「疲れていますし」 presents one reason for declining and sounds softer than a direct refusal.
Cultural Notes:
- 「〜し」 often makes a reason sound less absolute, which makes it useful for softer explanations in everyday communication.
- Sentence-final 「〜し」 often leaves an implication unfinished, allowing the listener to infer the omitted conclusion from the context.
- 「〜し」 can be used to list reasons in formal written language, but highly conversational sentence-final 「〜し」 should be avoided in formal documents.
How Does Japanese 「〜し」 Compare with Korean 「-고」 and 「-기도 하고」?
◆ Similar Grammar: Korean 「-고」 and 「-기도 하고」
Korean 「-고」 can coordinate actions or states, making it similar to Japanese 「〜て」 and some uses of 「〜し」. 「-기도 하고」 has a stronger sense of “also…” and enumeration, making it closer to the nuance of Japanese 「〜し」 when it implies additional reasons. However, Japanese 「〜し」 can both list reasons and leave an implication at the end of a sentence, so it cannot be matched perfectly by a single Korean form.
- Example: 이 가게는 싸고 맛있어요.
Romanization: i ga-ge-neun ssa-go ma-si-sseo-yo
Translation: This place is inexpensive and the food is good.
「-고」 mainly coordinates states and is close to Japanese 「安くておいしい」. - Example: 이 가게는 싸기도 하고 맛있기도 해요.
Romanization: i ga-ge-neun ssa-gi-do ha-go ma-sit-gi-do hae-yo
Translation: This place is inexpensive, and the food is good too.
「-기도 하고」 has the sense of listing multiple reasons and is close to Japanese 「安いし、おいしいし」. - Example: 시간도 늦었고 이제 돌아가요.
Romanization: si-gan-do neu-jeot-go i-je do-ra-ga-yo
Translation: It is getting late too, so let’s head back now.
Korean can use 「-고」 to connect a reason to what follows, but Japanese 「遅いし」 has a stronger sense of softly listing one reason among others.
◆ Core Difference from 「〜し」:
Japanese 「〜し」 is especially common when listing reasons while leaving a lingering implication. Korean chooses forms such as 「-고」 or 「-기도 하고」 depending on the context. When translating, it is important to determine whether the sentence is simply coordinating information or whether it also carries a sense of listing reasons and softening the tone.
What matters with Japanese 「〜し」 is that it presents something as one item among several. When two reasons appear before and after it, the reasons are laid out one by one. When only one reason is stated, or when the sentence ends with 「〜し」, the unstated content can remain implicit in the context. 「〜から」 is suited to stating a clear cause, while 「〜て」 is suited to neutrally connecting states. 「〜し」, by contrast, carries a sense of enumeration, supplementation, or leaving something unsaid. When deciding how it is being used, first check whether the sentence is listing reasons, listing features, or omitting a conclusion. This makes it easier to avoid reducing 「〜し」 to the single Chinese translation “而且.”
FAQs
「〜し」 is used to list reasons or add supporting reasons and is often translated into Chinese as “而且, 又, 也.” It can also present only one reason while implying that there are others.
「〜し」 attaches to plain forms. Verbs and い-adjectives take 「し」 directly, while な-adjectives and nouns normally take 「だし」, as in 「便利だし」 and 「休日だし」.
「〜から」 expresses a clear cause and sounds more direct. 「〜し」 tends to list reasons, sounds softer, and often implies that there are other reasons as well.
Yes. This is very common in spoken Japanese. Sentence-final 「〜し」 often leaves an unfinished implication, as though the stated reason is not the only one.
「安いしおいしい」 has a stronger sense of listing reasons or features, as if explaining why a place is worth choosing. 「安くておいしい」 is more like a neutral description that something is inexpensive and good.