〜し: Listing Reasons in Japanese ('And Besides…')
What it means
し is a particle that links two or more reasons or qualities, usually with the nuance of "and on top of that…" or "for one thing…". It's warmer and more conversational than just listing facts with て or と. Often the speaker is piling up reasons to support an opinion or a decision — sometimes the conclusion is stated, sometimes it's just left hanging.
このカフェは安いし、おいしいです。
このカフェは やすいし、おいしいです。
This cafe is cheap, and besides, the food is good.
ヤッタンは頭がいいし、優しいです。
ヤッタンは あたまが いいし、やさしいです。
Yattan is smart, and on top of that, kind.
今日は雨だし、寒いし、家にいます。
きょうは あめだし、さむいし、いえに います。
It's raining today, and it's cold, so I'll stay home.
Two し-reasons leading to a decision.
How to form it
し attaches to the plain (dictionary/casual) form. With nouns and な-adjectives, add だ first:
| Word type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | plain form + し | 行くし / 行かないし |
| い-adjective | plain form + し | 安いし / 高かったし |
| な-adjective | な-adj + だ + し | 静かだし |
| Noun | noun + だ + し | 休みだし |
You can use just one し to soften a statement ("for one thing…"), or chain several to pile on reasons. In polite speech, the politeness goes on the final clause: 安いし、おいしいです.
Listing reasons for a conclusion
A very common use is stacking reasons that lead to a decision. The conclusion can come at the end, or be implied:
時間もないし、お金もないし、行きません。
じかんも ないし、おかねも ないし、いきません。
I have no time, and no money either, so I'm not going.
も + し = 'no X, and no Y either.'
モチは料理ができるし、車も運転できます。
モチは りょうりが できるし、くるまも うんてんできます。
Mochi can cook, and what's more, can also drive.
先生は親切だし、説明も上手です。
せんせいは しんせつだし、せつめいも じょうずです。
The teacher is kind, and besides, explains things well.
親切 is a な-adjective, so 親切だし.
A single し to hint at a reason
One し can gently suggest "there's a reason (and maybe more)," leaving the rest unsaid. This is great for soft, natural-sounding excuses:
ヤッタンの弟はまだ小さいし…。
ヤッタンの おとうとは まだ ちいさいし…。
Well, Yattan's little brother is still young, for one thing…
Trailing し softens — the conclusion ('so let's go easy on him') is left implied.
How し pairs with から
し and から ("because") often work together. You can stack reasons with し and then cap them with から to make the cause-and-effect explicit:
安いし、近いから、この店にします。
やすいし、ちかいから、この みせに します。
It's cheap and close, so I'll go with this shop.
し lists reasons; から states the conclusion follows from them.
If you want the plain "A because B" link instead of an open-ended list, reach for 〜から or 〜ので on its own.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting だ with nouns and な-adjectives. It's 静かだし and 休みだし — not 静かし or 休みし.
- Using ます-form before し. し attaches to the plain form: 行くし (✓), not 行きますし. Keep politeness for the last clause.
- Treating し like English "and" for things. し links clauses (reasons/qualities), not nouns. To join nouns, use と or や: 犬と猫 ("a dog and a cat").
- Expecting a stated conclusion every time. A trailing し can stand alone, leaving the result implied — that open-endedness is the point.
Quick recap
- し lists reasons/qualities with an "and besides…" nuance.
- Attach it to the plain form; nouns and な-adjectives need だ first (静かだし).
- It often signals reasons leading to a conclusion, stated or implied.
- A single し softens ("for one thing…"); it pairs naturally with から.
Your turn
Choose the correct し form to list reasons.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What does the particle し mean?
し links two or more reasons or qualities with an 'and what's more' feel: 安いし、おいしい ('cheap, and besides, tasty'). It often implies these are reasons for a conclusion.
How do I attach し to a noun or な-adjective?
Add だ first: 休みだし ('it's a day off, and…'), 静かだし ('it's quiet, and…'). Verbs and い-adjectives take し directly on the plain form.
What's the difference between し and から?
から states a single 'because' reason. し stacks up multiple reasons with an open-ended 'and besides' nuance. They often combine: 安いし、近いから… ('cheap and close, so…').
Can I use just one し?
Yes. A single, often trailing, し softens a statement and hints there's a reason ('for one thing…'), leaving the rest unsaid: まだ小さいし…。