Skip to content

~し

and (listing reasons)

N4 Pattern

~し attaches to the plain form of a verb, adjective, or noun + だ and lists reasons or qualities side by side: “X, and what’s more, Y”. Each item sounds like one reason in a list, and the list feels like it could go on.

Unlike the て-form, which links items in a neutral way, ~し presents each item as a reason. It often builds up to a conclusion the way ~から does, but feels softer, because it hints that there are even more reasons left unsaid.

1. Listing two or more reasons

Stack qualities with to explain why something is good (or bad).

安いし、便利だ。

“It’s cheap, and (besides) convenient.”

  • 安い(やすい)= cheap
  • = and (lists a reason)
  • 便利だ(べんりだ)= is convenient

The list often leads straight into a conclusion at the end of the sentence.

この店は安いし、おいしいし、よく来ます。

“This restaurant is cheap and the food is good, so I come here often.”

  • この = this
  • (みせ)= restaurant, shop
  • = topic marker
  • 安い(やすい)= cheap
  • = and (lists a reason)
  • おいしい = delicious
  • よく = often
  • 来ます(きます)= come

2. A single し hinting at more reasons

Even one can carry the “among other things” feeling: you give one reason and imply there are others.

今日は雨だし、家にいよう。

“It’s raining today (among other things), so let’s stay home.”

  • 今日(きょう)= today
  • = topic marker
  • (あめ)= rain
  • = is (copula)
  • = and what’s more (lists a reason)
  • (いえ)= home
  • = location marker
  • いよう = let’s stay

How to form it

Plain form + し (nouns and な-adjectives take だし)

  • 安い(やすい)= cheap → 安いし(やすいし)= it is cheap, and ...
  • 便利だ(べんりだ)= is convenient → 便利だし(べんりだし)= it is convenient, and ...
  • ある = there is → あるし = there is ..., and ...

Key idea

Each stamps an item as “one more reason”. Because the list always feels open-ended, your conclusion sounds well supported without you having to spell out every reason.

Other N4 grammar

Browse all 216 grammar points

Updated .