Japanese grammar
What does ～し (listing reasons / characteristics) mean? Japanese grammar N4
～し (listing reasons / characteristics) means not only ~, but also ~; because ~ and also ~.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Plain form + し、plain form + し ～し、～ |
| Romaji | ~ shi |
| Meaning | not only ~, but also ~; because ~ and also ~ |
Forming it
| Verb / i-adjective | 安いし／駅も近いし |
|---|---|
| na-adjective / Noun | 静かだし／学生だし |
How to use it
Listing two or more reasons or characteristics, while implying there are other things left unsaid.
- し creates an open-ended list: the speaker states a few reasons but doesn't claim that's all of them. The particle も often accompanies it to emphasize "also": 安いし、便利だし、ここにします.
- You can state just one ～し clause when the remaining reason is already clear from context. Unlike から, し sounds like one factor among many rather than the sole cause.
Examples
この店は安いし、料理もおいしいです。
This restaurant is inexpensive, and the food is also good.
明日は休みだし、今夜はゆっくり話しましょう。
Tomorrow is a day off, so let us talk at leisure tonight.
Common mistakes
-
Wrongこの町は静かし、便利です。
Correctこの町は静かだし、便利です。
na-adjectives and nouns keep だ before し: 静かだし／学生だし.
Exam tips
- A sentence with も repeated across multiple clauses usually needs し to list characteristics in the same direction.