~し
and (listing reasons)
~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 し 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
- し = 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
- 店(みせ)= restaurant, shop
- は = topic marker
- 安い(やすい)= cheap
- し = 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 し 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
- は = topic marker
- 雨(あめ)= rain
- だ = is (copula)
- し = and what’s more (lists a reason)
- 家(いえ)= home
- に = 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 し 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
Updated .