LEARN + JAPANESE / Note 117 JLPT N4
Piling Up Reasons (し)
し attaches to the plain form and lists reasons or facts, one after another, building toward a conclusion. Unlike て or から, し implies there could be even more reasons than the ones actually stated.
It's quiet, and the rent is cheap too, so it's really good.
It's work I like, and my coworkers are kind too, so I enjoy every day.
In Real Life
Each clause ending in し adds one more supporting fact, and the pattern itself suggests the list isn’t exhaustive, “quiet, and the rent’s cheap, and honestly there’s more I could say.” から gives a single clear reason; し piles several up loosely.
It was cold, and there weren't many fish either, so it wasn't fun.
Huh, tonight? I've got plans tonight, so it's a bit...
In Real Life
Trailing off after a single し, leaving ちょっと。。。 unfinished, softens a refusal the same way ので does, implying there’s a reason without spelling out every detail, only politer, since the listener can guess there’s more behind it.
Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| rent | |
| coworker | |
| kind | |
| mean, unkind | |
| to get angry | |
| tent | |
| heavy | |
| to pitch (a tent), stick | |
| narrow, cramped | |
| unskilled, poor at | |
| to have plans | |
| serious, diligent | |
| wine | |
| temple | |
| reason | |
| to decline, refuse | |
| on top of that | |
| moreover | |
| enough, sufficient | |
| conclusion |