“〜shi”: Listing Reasons / Stacking Multiple Grounds [JLPT N4]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

「安いし、おいしいし、また行きたい」 — し stacks multiple reasons, boosting persuasiveness.

“〜shi”: Listing Reasons / Stacking Multiple Grounds

「(plain form) ＋ し」 means “and 〜, what's more 〜 (listing multiple reasons/features)” — listing multiple reasons or features, boosting persuasiveness. E.g. 「このレストランは安いし、おいしいし、また行きたい」 (this restaurant is cheap and delicious, so I want to go again), 「静かだし、景色もいいし、最高だ」 (it's quiet and the view is good — it's the best). ⚠️ Contrast with 「から」: し = listing multiple reasons (and … and …, stackable); から = a single, clear cause-effect (because … so)! ⚠️ Connection: plain form ＋ し (noun/な-adj ＋ だ ＋ し: 静かだし). ⚠️ 「〜し、〜し…」 can list only reasons with the conclusion omitted at the end (疲れたし、お腹も空いたし… = and tired, and hungry…, implying ‘so…').

🧠 Core nuance: stacking multiple reasons/features, boosting persuasion

The core is listing multiple reasons or features ‘and … and …,' stacking them to boost persuasiveness or tone: 「〜し、〜し」 lists multiple parallel reasons, grounds, features (安いし、おいしいし = cheap and delicious, 雨だし、寒いし = rainy and cold, お金もないし、時間もないし = no money and no time). It implies ‘with this many reasons, so….' ⚠️ Core contrast with 「から/ので」: 「し」 = listing multiple reasons (stackable, listing: 安いし、おいしいし、また行きたい); 「から」 = a single, clear cause-effect (because … so, usually one reason: 安いから買う)! し can stack multiple, から is usually single. ⚠️ Connection: plain form ＋ し; noun/な-adj ＋ だ ＋ し (学生だし, 静かだし). ⚠️ 「〜し、〜し…」 can list only reasons with the conclusion omitted (implied): 疲れたし、もう遅いし… (and tired, and it's late… → implying ‘so let's go home'). ⚠️ It can also list just one し, implying ‘there are other reasons too' (時間もないし… = and there's no time…). An N4 pattern for listing reasons.

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• このレストランは安いし、おいしいし、また行きたい。(This restaurant is cheap and delicious, so I want to go again.) — listing reasons
• このホテルは静かだし、景色もいいし、最高だ。(This hotel is quiet and the view is good — it's the best.) — な-adj ＋ だ ＋ し
• なぜ行かないの? ── 雨だし、寒いし…。(Why aren't you going? — It's rainy, and cold…) — conclusion omitted
• お金もないし、時間もないし、旅行は無理だ。(There's no money and no time, so travel is impossible.) — stacking reasons
• 疲れたし、もう遅いし、今日は帰ろう。(I'm tired, and it's late, so let's go home today.) — listing + conclusion

🔄 Compare: し vs から vs て vs たり

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. し vs から: し = listing multiple reasons (stackable); から = a single clear cause-effect (usually one) — different nuances!
2. Connection adds だ: noun/な-adj ＋ だ ＋ し (静かだし, 学生だし, ✗ 静かし).
3. Conclusion can be omitted: 〜し、〜し… can list only reasons with the conclusion omitted (implying ‘so…').
4. Stacking reinforces: し often stacks multiple (安いし、おいしいし、近いし), boosting persuasiveness.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

「し」 means “and 〜, what's more 〜,” listing multiple reasons or features ‘and … and …' (安いし、おいしいし、また行きたい), stacking to boost persuasiveness. ⚠️ Distinguish from the single-clear-cause-effect 「から」 — し can stack multiple reasons, から is usually single. Attaches to the plain form (noun/な-adj add だ). Can list only reasons with the conclusion omitted (implied). Distinguish from the connecting て and the citing たり. An N4 pattern for listing reasons. A must.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• N4 core: plain form ＋ し = and 〜 (listing multiple reasons/features, stackable, boosting persuasion); noun/な-adj ＋ だ ＋ し.
• Core distinction: し (listing multiple reasons, stackable) vs から (a single clear cause-effect).
• Extension: 〜し、〜し… can omit the conclusion at the end (implying ‘so…'); stacking reinforces tone.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「このレストランは安い___、おいしい___、また行きたい。」Which is correct?

(A) ので・ので　(B) し・し　(C) から・から　(D) けど・けど

Q2. 「静かだ___、景色もいい___、このホテルは最高だ。」Which is correct?

(A) なし・なし　(B) のし・のし　(C) だし・だし　(D) がし・がし

Q3. What's the biggest difference between 「〜し」 and 「〜から」?

(A) し is polite, から is colloquial

(B) し lists multiple reasons; から gives a single subjective reason

(C) から lists multiple reasons; し gives one

(D) identical meaning

Q4. What's the effect of trailing off with 「し」 in 「疲れた___、お腹も空いた___…」?

(A) stating just one reason

(B) listing several reasons and leaving the conclusion to the listener (a lingering tone)

(C) expressing prohibition

(D) stating a past fact

Q5. 「なぜ行かないの？ ── 雨___、寒い___。」(it's raining and cold) Which is correct?

(A) なので・なので

(B) だし・し

(C) だから・から

(D) だけど・けど

Answer Key

1. (B) し・し ── 安いし、おいしいし lists multiple good points leading to ‘I want to go again.' し is for listing parallel reasons.

2. (C) だし・だし ── a な-adjective/noun ＋ だ ＋ し: 静かだし、景色もいいし.

3. (B) ── し lists multiple reasons; から gives a single subjective reason.

4. (B) ── trailing off with し lists several reasons and leaves the conclusion to the listener (a lingering tone).

5. (B) だし・し ── 雨だし、寒いし (noun ＋ だし; い-adjective ＋ し).