~し
し is kind of like the て form in that it functions like “and”. However, there are things left unsaid with し。
And
And (Things left unsaid)
Verb/い Adjective + し
Noun/な Adjective + だし
Since し leaves things unsaid, it can be used to make an incomplete list. Typically used with adjectives, but verbs are allowed as well.
- 先生は優しいし、頭がいい – The teacher is kind (and stuff) and smart.
- 彼女はきれいだし、声も美しい – She’s beautiful (and other stuff) and her voice is beautiful.
- 彼はなまけものだし、最低だ – He’s lazy (and other stuff) and horrible.
- 寺にも行ったし、ホテルに泊まった – We went to temples (and others), and stayed in a hotel.
There is a strong tendency to use も in place of が or を in this pattern.
- 食べ物もおいしいし、値段もいい。- The food is also good (and other stuff) as well as the price.
- 人もいっぱいいるし、行きたくない – There’s a lot of people (and other reasons), so I don’t want to go.
Reasons
The most common use of し you will see is to list more than one reason. Using し implies that the reasons listed are not all of the reasons.
- 行きたいし、時間もあるし来週に行く – I want to go and I have money, so I will go next week.
- 彼が好きだし、時間もあるし、行きたい – I want to go because I like him and I have time.
- 猫が好きだし、食べていなかったし、猫カフェにいった – I like cats and was hungry, so I went to a cat cafe.
し can also be used to imply a reason that you don’t want to say/can’t say.
- お客様がいないし, ねます – There’s no guests (and I’m tired) so I’m going to sleep.
- もう終わったし、帰ろう. – It’s over (and I have stuff to do), so let’s go home.
- 降りそうだし、やめよう – It looks like it’s going to rain (and I don’t want to) so let’s not do it.
- しょくばが好きだしやめない – I like my workplace (and the salary), so I won’t quit.
You may also change the last し into から (for reasons)
- 忙しいし、疲れているから行かなかった – I was busy (and other stuff) and tired, so I didn’t go.
See also から
し vs から
Since し does not name a specific cause it generally comes across as softer than から。
から on the other hand is direct and to the point at naming a specific cause.
- 猫が好きだし、行く – I’ll go because I like cats (and other reasons).
- 猫が好きだから行く – I’m going because I like cats.
- 猫が好きだし、暇だからいく – I’m going because I have time and I like cats (and other things).
VS て and たり
- 先生は優しくて、頭がいい – The teacher is nice and smart.
- 先生は優しいし、頭がいい – The teacher is nice (and other things) and smart.
- 忙しくて、疲れているから行かない – I won’t go because I’m busy and tired.
- 忙しいし、疲れているし行かない – I’m busy, and tired (and other reasons) so I won’t go.
- 寺にいって、ホテルに泊まった – Went to a temple and stayed at a hotel.
- 寺に行ったし、ホテルにとまった – Went to a temple (other stuff too) and stayed at a hotel.
- 寺に行ったりして、ホテルにとまった – Did things like go to temples, and stayed at a hotel.
See also たり