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

Details

  • Standard

About し~し

Like , 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 will highlight is 'reasons'. Regularly it is translated simply as 'and'.

may be connected to the end of almost any word, but will require a before it when it comes after nouns or な-Adjectives. will follow every 'reason' that is being listed in a sentence. However, the last may be replaced with から or ので, before the 'result' is stated.

Using 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.

Fun Fact

In all of its uses, indicates things that are 矛盾(むじゅん)()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

--:--

  • (かれ)掃除(そうじ)でき料理(りょうり)(つく)れる結婚(けっこん)てよかった

    He can clean and cook (among other things). I am glad that I married him.

  • この(あか)可愛(かわい)、デザインいいこの帽子(ぼうし)()たい

    This red is cute and the design is good (among other things). I want to buy this hat!

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

    She is kind and beautiful (among other things). I really love her.

  • この近所(きんじょ)治安(ちあん)いい、スーパー(ちか)(ひと)(やさ)からここ()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.

  • (ぼく)全然(ぜんぜん)やりたくない、やること(おお)すぎ(あきら)めようと(おも)っています。

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

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      し~し – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

      • The111

        The111

        I think there is an inconsistency in the sample sentences. Look at this one:

        でもやったら上手になるし、将来日本けるかもしれないよ。

        But if you do do it, you will become proficient (among other things) and in the future you might be able to go to Japan.

        The “among other things” modifier describes the phrase that precedes and attaches to the し (becoming proficient), i.e. the REASONS.

        But now look at this one:

        このツアーでったら、バスの放題いているし、見物もいっぱいできる。

        If you go on this tour, an unlimited bus ride is included and you can also do a lot of sightseeing (among other things).

        Now, the “among other things” is supposedly modifying a completely different part of...

      • casual

        casual

        I apologize if I misunderstand the point, but there’s no comment from the staff yet, so let me try to help.

        The part of the sentence that follows し is not necessarily a result/conclusion from reasons enumerated by し.
        It could also be a continuation of the same series, just with the last reason not specifically marked by し, から, んだもん, or anything else. Bunpro doesn’t exactly spell this out, and I think it should.
        Then how do you know if it’s a conclusion or not? Usually only one possibility makes sense in the context.

        Examples:

        あの人は美人だし、頭もいい。
        She’s beautiful, and what’s more she’s bright.
        (DoBJG p396)

        Here, she is not bright because she is beautiful (among other reasons). Both are equally reasons for something else implied in the context.

        ここのパンはおいしいし、安いし、とてもかわいい
        〜し〜し①(並列)|日本語能力試験 JLPT N4文法 : 絵でわかる日本語

      • The111

        The111

        Thanks… I think you are 100% right. That helped a lot. I was focusing far too much on the structure, largely because, as you say, they don’t really explain that the final し can be completely omitted (though they do say it can be mutated to a different word). So I’m now ok with the second example I gave.

        However… I now think my first example from above is translated wrong.

        でもやったら上手になるし、将来日本けるかもしれないよ。
        But if you do do it, you will become proficient (among other things) and in the future you might be able to go to Japan.

        Putting the “among other things” before the “and” (instead of at the end of the list) makes it sound like the non-exhaustive list of things is only 1 item here (when in fact I think it is 2).

        In every other example, the “among other things” comes after the last item in the list (the items in the li...

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