Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 9: 1/16

し (Reasons)

And, Giving reasons

The last し in a sentence can be replaced with から or ので

Structure

Verb (A) + し + （Verb (B) + し）
［い］Adjective (A) + し + （［い］Adjective (B) + し）
［な］Adjective (A) + だ + し + （［な］Adjective (B) + だ + し）
Noun (A) + だ + し + （Noun (B) + だ + し）

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About し～し

Like て, し is a conjunction particle. This means that it is used for linking the (A) and (B) parts of a sentence, and describing that link in some way. The 'description' that し will highlight is 'reasons'. Regularly it is translated simply as 'and'.
し may be connected to the end of almost any word, but will require a だ before it when it comes after nouns or な-Adjectives. し will follow every 'reason' that is being listed in a sentence. However, the last し may be replaced with から or ので, before the 'result' is stated.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)はピアノが弾(ひ)けるし、スポーツができるし、彼女(かのじょ)に出来(でき)ないことはないと思(おも)う。
    She can play the piano and she can do sports. I think there isn't anything she can't do.
  • このレストランは高(たか)いし、まずいし、何(なに)もいいところがない。
    This restaurant is expensive and doesn't taste good. There are no good parts.
  • 彼(かれ)は真面目(まじめ)だし、親切(しんせつ)だし、彼(かれ)と友達(ともだち)でよかった。
    He is serious and nice. I am glad that he is my friend.
  • 今日(きょう)は休(やす)みだし、晴(は)れだし、今日(きょう)は公園(こうえん)に行(い)こう。
    Today is my day off, and it's sunny, so let's go to the park.
Using し will indicate that each 'reason' being listed is of equal weight/importance. Because of this, it would not be appropriate to use in sentences where one of the reasons clearly far outweighs everything else.
  • 昨日(きのう)は雨(あめ)が降(ふ)ってたし、おばあちゃんも亡(な)くなったし、悲(かな)しいな。
    It was raining yesterday and my grandmother also passed away, so I'm sad. (Unnatural Japanese, as the level of sadness between losing your grandmother, and it being a rainy day would be completely different)
Fun Fact
In all of its uses, し indicates things that are 矛盾(むじゅん)無(な)く共存(きょうぞん)する, which basically means 'things that coexist, without contradicting each other'. This is the primary reason why each thing listed must be of equal importance (in terms of the overall story that the speaker is trying to convey).

Examples

  • 彼(かれ)は掃除(そうじ)ができるし、料理(りょうり)も作(つく)れるし、結婚(けっこん)してよかった。

    He can clean and cook. I am glad that I married him.

  • この赤(あか)が可愛(かわい)いし、デザインがいいし、この帽子(ぼうし)を買(か)いたい。

    This red is cute and the design is good. I want to buy this hat!

  • 彼女(かのじょ)は親切(しんせつ)だし、綺麗(きれい)だし、本当(ほんとう)に大好(だいす)き。

    She is kind and beautiful. I really love her.

  • この近所(きんじょ)は治安(ちあん)がいいし、スーパーが近(ちか)いし、人(ひと)が優(やさ)しいからここに住(す)んでみたい。

    This neighborhood is safe and the store is close and the people are nice, so I wouldn't mind living here.

  • 僕(ぼく)は全然(ぜんぜん)やりたくないし、やることが多(おお)すぎるし、諦(あきら)めようと思(おも)っています。

    I have absolutely no desire to do it and there are too many things to do, (so) I am thinking about giving up.

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