し

JLPT N4approx.Casual
Meaning
  1. 1Lists two or more reasons or features cumulatively, often leading to a conclusion or judgment.Ex. 1
  2. 2Gives one reason as a representative example, often with も, implying other reasons exist.Ex. 2
Formation
Verb (plain form)+し
i-adj. (plain form)+し
na-adj.+だ+し
Noun+だ+し
Politeますです form+しe.g. 行くし, 行ったし, 安いし, 静かだし, 学生だし, 安いですし
Examples
この店みせは安やすいし、おいしいし、よく来くるんだ。
This shop is cheap, and the food is good, so I come here often.
The weather's nice today, among other things, so let's go for a walk.
Usage

Common in everyday conversation and casual writing, typically used to justify a decision, invitation or opinion by piling up reasons. から also gives reasons, and several can be listed with it, but it presents them straightforwardly as the cause. し frames reasons as a non-exhaustive list, which softens the statement. It is less formal than additive expressions such as 上に or に加えて.

Watch out

Do not attach し directly to a な形容詞 or 名詞; say 静かだし or 学生だし, not 静かし.

Learners sometimes use し to list actions in sequence; use the て-form for that, or 〜たり〜たりする for sample activities.

Note that し implies other reasons may exist, so it can sound vague when one clear cause is needed.

Easily confused with
  • からN5「から」 overlaps with 「し」 only when expressing cause: 「から」 states the cause-effect directly, while 「し」 lists reasons and implies there are more, sounding softer. Use 「から」 for a single reason; 「から」 is neutral in register, while 「し」 leans colloquial.
  • 上にN2When simply stacking facts in the same direction, you can swap in the more formal 「上に」, but its sentence generally cannot end with an invitation or request, so forms like 「散歩に行こう」 cannot be replaced. It connects as 「静かな上に」 or 「学生の上に」, without adding 「だ」.
  • に加えてN3「に加えて」 mainly attaches to nouns (other words need 「の」 or 「こと」 etc.), is used in writing, and objectively adds information without itself expressing a reason; 「し」 attaches to sentences, is colloquial, and lists reasons or items. In formal writing, 「に加えて」 can replace 「し」 when listing reasons.
  • ばかりでなくN3「ばかりでなく」 means 'not only... but also...' and resembles 「し」 only when listing items in parallel, but it lacks the sense of listing reasons and leading to a conclusion. Its register is neutral and it works in writing too; な-adjectives take 「な」 rather than 「だ」.
  • 〜たり〜たりするN3「〜たり〜たりする」 cites representative actions or states or shows alternation/repetition, usually ending with 「する」, uses the た-form before 「たり」, and is neutral in register; 「し」 lists reasons or items with a following judgment or decision, and is colloquial. The two are generally not interchangeable.
  • だの〜だのN2「だの〜だの」 carries a tone of dissatisfaction, often listing others' complaints or excuses, and is frequently followed by 「と言う」; 「し」 has no negative nuance, lists reasons leading to a judgment, decision, or invitation, and can cite just one item. The two are generally not interchangeable.

から presents its reason or reasons directly as the cause without implying others. 上に, に加えて and ばかりでなく add points in a more formal, written style; 〜たり〜たりする lists sample actions rather than reasons, and だの〜だの lists items, often with a complaining tone.

Grammar · JLPT grammar levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

Say it right, write it right

Core lookup works fully offline, with cloud pronunciation and one-tap save & review. Free, no sign-up.

Free downloadWindowsFree downloadmacOSDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
MobileiOS / Android

Android

QR code for the Google Play pageGet it on Google Play

Scan it with your Android phone to install, or search for “Tomoshi” on Google Play.

iOS

QR code for the App Store pageDownload on the App Store

Scan it with your iPhone camera to install, or search for “Tomoshi” in the App Store.

Install the browser extensionLook words up on any web page · Chrome / Edge / Safari

Screenshot of a Tomoshi lookup resultScreenshot of Tomoshi lookup results on a phone

Windows macOS Chrome / Edge / Safari extension iOS / Android