と

と means and; with. It is a JLPT N5 Japanese grammar pattern used to connect nouns, mark companions, or quote speech/thought.

This grammar point appears often in beginner conversations, classroom Japanese, and JLPT-style questions. If you want to connect nouns, mark companions, or quote speech/thought, と is a useful pattern to learn because it helps you build natural basic sentences.

What does と mean?

Use と when you want to connect nouns, mark companions, or quote speech/thought.

Natural translations include:

• and
• with
• quotation particle

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

How to form と

Noun + と / sentence + と

Examples of the pattern:

• 犬と猫
• 友達と行く
• 「はい」と言う

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

When is と used?

Use と in situations like:

• listing nouns
• doing something with someone
• quoting what someone said

Tone and register:

• neutral and essential
• Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and beginner JLPT questions

と example sentences

• 犬と猫がいます。 — There is a dog and a cat.
• 友達と映画を見ました。 — I watched a movie with my friend.
• 母と電話で話しました。 — I talked with my mother on the phone.
• 「ありがとう」と言いました。 — I said “thank you.”
• 日本語と英語を勉強しています。 — I am studying Japanese and English.

Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: question, contrast, reason, time limit, suggestion, negation, comparison, or obligation.

Nuance of と

The key nuance is と links fixed items or marks an exact companion/quote.

This matters because beginner Japanese often uses small words and endings to show meaning that English expresses with word order or helper verbs. For と, the sentence can change a lot depending on placement and context.

For example:

• In conversation, it helps the listener understand と links fixed items or marks an exact companion/quote.
• Compared with や, it has a different job even when the English translation looks close.

と vs や

Both と and や can express related ideas, but they are different.

と:

• lists items more completely or exactly
• marks “with” and quotations

や:

• lists examples non-exhaustively
• means “such as”

Quick contrast examples:

• 犬と猫がいます。— There are a dog and a cat.
• 犬や猫がいます。— There are animals such as dogs and cats.

If you are unsure which one to use, ask what the sentence is trying to do: ask a question, connect ideas, show a reason, mark time, make an invitation, compare two things, or express obligation.

Common mistakes with と

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using と for open-ended example lists when や fits better
• Forgetting と after the person you go with
• Confusing と “and” with と used for quotes

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 と on the JLPT?

Yes. と is commonly taught as JLPT N5 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• 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 と

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say you went with a friend.
• List dogs and cats.
• Quote “thank you.”

Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.

Learning path for と

Use と as part of your JLPT N5 listing, choice, and inclusion grammar toolkit. Use the pattern to decide whether the sentence lists everything, gives examples, offers alternatives, or adds “also/even.” Practice with two simple nouns or actions before making longer lists.

A good review order is: first make one short sentence with と, then compare it with か～か, and finally add だけ or でも to see how the basic meaning changes.

For practice, keep the sentence short: write one example with と, one example with a different subject or time word, and one example that contrasts it with a related pattern below.

Related grammar to review next

• か～か — contrasts with this pattern from the question, explanation, and confirmation grammar group.
• だけ — adds another way to list examples, choices, inclusion, or limits.
• でも — contrasts with this pattern from the reason, contrast, and connector grammar group.
• も — adds another way to list examples, choices, inclusion, or limits.

Learn と with Hane

If you want to review と together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

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• JLPT N5 grammar lessons