し means and; what’s more. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express the N4 idea of “and; what’s more” in natural Japanese.
This grammar point often appears in conversation, written explanations, formal notices, and JLPT-style reading questions. If you want to express the N4 idea of “and; what’s more” in natural Japanese, し is a useful pattern to learn after the N5 basics.
What does し mean?
Use し when you want to express the N4 idea of “and; what’s more” in natural Japanese.
Natural translations include:
- and
- and what’s more
- and; what’s more
How to form し
You can also chain multiple clauses: A し、B し、C.
Examples of the pattern:
- 安いし
- 親切だし
- 近いし
When is し used?
Use し in situations like:
- explaining a condition, reason, decision, comparison, or time relationship
- making a sentence more specific than a basic N5 pattern
Tone and register:
- neutral unless the grammar itself is marked as casual, humble, honorific, or formal
- Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and JLPT N4 reading questions
し example sentences
Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: condition, timing, limitation, possibility, decision, politeness, contrast, or emphasis.
Nuance of し
The key nuance is and; what’s more in a sentence-specific context.
This matters because し may look simple in English, but the Japanese form tells you whether the speaker is describing a time, a condition, a decision, a possibility, a contrast, or a social relationship.
For example:
- In context, し helps make the sentence more precise than a direct English translation.
- Compared with そして, it has a different focus even when both patterns appear in similar sentences.
し vs そして
Both し and そして can appear in related sentences, but they are different.
If you are unsure which one to use, identify the main job of the sentence before translating it into English.
Common mistakes with し
Is し on the JLPT?
Yes. し is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.
Practice questions for し
Once the structure feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.
Learning path for し
Use し as part of your JLPT N4 listing, addition, and choice grammar toolkit. Use し to control how many items or reasons you present and how open-ended the list feels. Compare it with other listing and addition patterns so you can avoid making the sentence sound narrower than intended.
Related grammar to review next
- それに — also; in addition.
- でも — or something; how about.
- も — as much as; surprisingly many.
- ばかり — only; just that.
Learn し with Hane
If you want to review し together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here:
FAQ about し
What does し (shi) mean in Japanese?
し (shi) means “and; what’s more”. It is JLPT N4 grammar. Use し when you want to express the N4 idea of “and; what’s more” in natural Japanese.
How do you form し (shi)?
Verb (plain form)+し い-adjective+し な-adjective+だ+し Noun+だ+し You can also chain multiple clauses: A し、B し、C.
What is an example sentence with し (shi)?
この店は安いし、おいしいです。 — This shop is cheap and tasty.