“〜し (shi)”: Listing Reasons in Japanese — “A and B, so…” [JLPT N4]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「安いし、おいしいし、また行きたい」— use し to pile up reasons and let them make your point for you.

「安いし、おいしいし」 — stacking several reasons with 「し」

「このレストランは安いし、おいしいし、駅から近い」 (this restaurant is cheap, tasty, and close to the station) — 「(plain form) ＋ し」 lists several reasons or traits (both… and…, and also…), implying “not just these.” Its biggest difference from single-reason 「から」: し stacks multiple grounds. This guide covers 「し」's attachment and feel, and separates it from から／て. (The repeated 「〜し〜し」 has its own 〈し〜し〉 guide.)

Core: stack several reasons／traits (and more)

「〜し」 = “and also…,” listing multiple reasons or traits, implying there's more:

• このレストランは安いし、おいしい (cheap and tasty… (and other perks)).
• 疲れたし、もう帰る (I'm tired… (and it's late), heading home).

Feel: stacking reasons to persuade, often with a “so…” conclusion (implying unsaid reasons).

How to Connect

See it in context

• このレストランは安いし、おいしい。(This restaurant is cheap and tasty.) — listing reasons
• 静かだし、景色もいい。(It's quiet, and the view's nice too.) — na-adjective
• 疲れたし、お腹も空いた。(I'm tired, and hungry too.) — stacking
• 「なぜ行かないの？」「雨だし、疲れてるし…」(“Why not go?” “It's raining, and I'm tired…”) — making an excuse
• 彼は真面目だし、優しい。(He's serious and kind.) — listing traits

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① し (multiple reasons) vs から (single reason). 「し」 = list multiple reasons, implying more (安いし、おいしいし = cheap and tasty (and more)); 「から」 = a single clear reason (安いから買う = I buy it because it's cheap). Stack reasons → し, one cause → から.

② na-adjectives／nouns add 「だ」. 静かだし (✗ 静かし), 学生だし (✗ 学生し). na-adjectives and nouns add だ before し.

③ Often with a “so…” conclusion. After the reasons, a conclusion often follows (疲れたし、帰ろう). You can also list reasons and omit the conclusion (雨だし、疲れてるし… = it's raining and I'm tired… (so I won't go — understood)).

🔄 Compare with similar forms: し／から／て

💡 How to remember this

「し」 is a great tool for giving reasons and making excuses — to recommend or gently decline, stacking 「安いし、近いし、おいしいし」 is very convincing and implies “(and other perks).” The difference from 「から」: し = stacking multiple reasons (implying more); から = a single clear reason. Asked “why not go,” answering 「雨だし、疲れてるし…」 (raining, and tired…) — listing a couple of reasons and omitting the conclusion — the other person gets it; a natural, soft decline. Mind the attachment: na-adjectives and nouns add だ (静かだし).

❓ Common questions

Q: 「し」 vs 「から」?

By the number of reasons and tone. 「し」 = list multiple reasons, implying “there's more unsaid” (安いし、おいしいし、近い = cheap, tasty, and close (and more)); 「から」 = a single, clear, direct reason (安いから買う = I buy it because it's cheap). To stack several reasons (especially recommending or excusing), use し; for one clear cause, use から.

Q: Is answering 「なぜ？」 with 「し」 natural?

Very! Listing a few reasons with 「し」, even omitting the conclusion, is a very authentic Japanese soft answer. E.g. 「なぜ行かないの？」→「雨だし、疲れてるし…」 (it's raining, and I'm tired…) — two reasons (rain, tiredness), with “so I won't go” left unsaid, and the other person gets it. This “し…し… then trail off” is far softer than a blunt 「行きたくない (don't want to go)」.

🖊️ 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).