し

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

The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on what the grammar point does in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.

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

Pay attention to the word form before the pattern. Many JLPT N4 mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.

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
• understanding natural Japanese in conversation or reading

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

Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. 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

A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.

Is し on the JLPT?

Practice questions for し

Keep your first sentences simple. 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 — adds another way to list, add, limit, or choose information.
• でも — adds another way to list, add, limit, or choose information.
• も — adds another way to list, add, limit, or choose information.
• ばかり — adds another way to list, add, limit, or choose information.

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:

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• JLPT N4 grammar lessons