The 〜し conjunction is used to give multiple reasons or examples, often when explaining opinions or decisions.
It adds a soft, cumulative feel to your explanation — like “because this, and also that.”
[Reason 1] し、[Reason 2] し、[Conclusion/Action]
- Can list two or more reasons
- Often used with 〜から or 〜ので at the end for a conclusion
- Polite and common in both speech and writing
このみせ は やすい し、おいしい し、よく いきます。
Kono mise wa yasui shi, oishii shi, yoku ikimasu.
This shop is cheap and tasty, so I go often.
せんせい は やさしい し、おもしろい し、にんき が あります。
Sensei wa yasashii shi, omoshiroi shi, ninki ga arimasu.
The teacher is kind and fun, so they’re popular.
つかれている し、ねむい し、はやく かえります。
Tsukareteiru shi, nemui shi, hayaku kaerimasu.
I’m tired and sleepy, so I’m going home early.
The conjunction 〜ながら is used to express two actions happening at the same time, performed by the same subject. The action before ながら is usually the secondary one.
[Verb stem] ながら、[Main Action]
- The verb before ながら must be in its stem form (e.g. yomu → yominagara)
- The two actions must share the same subject
- Use for actions that can logically happen together
おんがく を ききながら、べんきょう します。
Ongaku o kikinagara, benkyou shimasu.
I study while listening to music.
あるきながら、スマホ を みないで ください。
Arukinagara, sumaho o minaide kudasai.
Please don’t look at your phone while walking.
テレビ を みながら、ばんごはん を たべました。
Terebi o minagara, bangohan o tabemashita.
I ate dinner while watching TV.
The particle と links two actions to show that one naturally follows the other, or that one condition leads to an outcome.
[Action/Condition A] と、[Result/Reaction B]
- Used when B happens naturally after A
- Often translated as "when", "if", or "whenever"
- Not for volitional actions (like “I will…”); use 〜たら or 〜とき for that
春 に なる と、さくら が さきます。
Haru ni naru to, sakura ga sakimasu.
When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom.
この ボタン を おす と、ドア が あきます。
Kono botan o osu to, doa ga akimasu.
If you press this button, the door opens.
つかれる と、あたま が いたく なります。
Tsukareru to, atama ga itaku narimasu.
When I get tired, my head starts to hurt.
The て-form of a verb connects two or more actions or states, showing sequence (and then), cause-effect (so, because), or combination (by doing...).
[Verb A (て-form)]、[Verb B]
- One of the most flexible connectors in Japanese
- The subject usually stays the same across connected verbs
ごはん を たべて、がっこう に いきました。
Gohan o tabete, gakkou ni ikimashita.
I ate breakfast and then went to school.
ねつ が あるて、がっこう を やすみました。
Netsu ga arute, gakkou o yasumimashita.
I had a fever, so I stayed home from school.
おかあさん に きいて、きめました。
Okaasan ni kiite, kimemashita.
I asked my mom and decided.