Shi is the Japanese word for 'death', explained (2024)

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By Masaki Mori

What does “shi” mean in Japanese?

There are homophones, but native speakers often say “shi” to mean ‘death’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain its definition, meaning, and usages with example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand “shi” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

  • Definition and meaning of “shi”
    • Example #1: how to say “death” in Japanese
    • Example #2: another usage of “shi”
  • Summary

Definition and meaning of “shi”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “shi”.

  • shi – 死 (し) : a noun meaning ‘death’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this noun to refer to the state of being dead in Japanese. So, its usage is similar to that of the English noun, “death”.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.

Example #1: how to say “death” in Japanese

boku wa kare no shi wo wasure nai – 僕は彼の死を忘れない (ぼくはかれのしをわすれない)

I will not forget his death.

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

  • boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
  • wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
  • kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
  • no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kare” to make its possessive case, “kare no”, which means ‘his’ in Japanese.
  • wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kare no shi” to make the object in the sentence.
  • wasure – 忘れ (わすれ) : one conjugation of the verb, “wasureru”, which means ‘to forget’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
  • nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese nai form. In the example, this is used after “wasure” to deny its meaning, ‘to forget’.

This is a typical usage of “shi”. In this example, it works as a part of the noun phrase, “kare no shi”, which means ‘his death’ in Japanese.

Example #2: another usage of “shi”

kyou chichi no shi kara juu nen wo mukae ta – 今日父の死から十年を迎えた (きょうちちのしからじゅうねんをむかえた)

Today marks ten years since my father’s death.

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

  • kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb to say “today” in Japanese.
  • chichi – 父 (ちち) : a noun meaning ‘father’ in Japanese.
  • kara – から : a case particle used to say when something starts. In the example, this is used after “chichi no shi” to indicate the beginning of the time period.
  • juu – 十 (じゅう) : a numeral meaning ‘ten’ in Japanese.
  • nen – 年 (ねん) : a counter for years.
  • mukae – 迎え (むかえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “mukaeru”, which means ‘to welcome’, ‘to mark’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
  • ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form. In the example, this is used after “mukae” to make its past tense form, “mukae ta”.

This is another typical usage of “shi”. In this example, it works as a part of the noun phrase, “chichi no shi” to mean ‘my father’s death’ in Japanese. When we want to refer to the state of being dead in Japanese, anyway, this noun is a very good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “shi”. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentence. Let me summarize them as follows.

  • shi – 死 (し) : a noun meaning ‘death’ in Japanese. Native speakers use this to refer to the state of being dead in Japanese. So, the usage of this noun is similar to that of the English one, “death”.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.

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Shi is the Japanese word for 'death', explained (1)

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Shi is the Japanese word for 'death', explained (2024)

FAQs

Shi is the Japanese word for 'death', explained? ›

死 (shi) means “death,” and consists of two parts. The top and left line represents a bone and the left side represents a person who is upside down in the ground. It indicates death of the person. Many of us may not want to think about death.

What does shi mean in Japanese death? ›

し /shi/ in Japanese commonly refers to 四/4, 死 (die, death), 市 (city), 氏 (clan), and so on. Generally speaking, the number four or the word meaning “to die” are what are often referred to in popular culture.

What does the Japanese word shi mean? ›

Learn Japanese vocabulary: 四 【し】(shi) Meaning: four; 4. The other reading よん (yon) is often used instead since し can also mean “death”.

What is the Japanese meaning of death? ›

If you want to say “death” as a noun, that would be simply “死”(shi). The verb “die” is combined with Hiragana and written「死ぬ」(shinu).

What does shi at the end of a name mean in Japanese? ›

Shi (氏、し) is used in formal writing and sometimes in very formal speech for referring to a person who is unfamiliar to the speaker, typically a person known through publications whom the speaker has never actually met.

What does the small Shi mean in Japanese? ›

In the Ainu language, シ is used to represent the ʃi sound. It can also be written as a small ㇱ to represent a final s sound, pronounced ɕ. Form. Rōmaji. Hiragana.

Does Shi mean 4 in Japanese? ›

In general counting, for speed the Japanese tend to use し/shi/四/4 because it is MUCH easier to say quickly than よん/yon/四/4. ichi ni san shi go roku shichi hachi kyu juu….

What is Japanese kanji for death? ›

means 'death'

Kanji are classified as Jōyō (常用, common use), Jinmeiyō (人名用, used in names), or Hyōgaiji (表外字, 'outside the chart').

What symbol represent death? ›

Various images are used traditionally to symbolize death; these rank from blunt depictions of cadavers and their parts to more allusive suggestions that time is fleeting and all men are mortals. The human skull is an obvious and frequent symbol of death, found in many cultures and religious traditions.

What do the Japanese call the afterlife? ›

Yomi or Yomi-no-kuni (黄泉, 黄泉の国, or 黄泉ノ国) is the Japanese word for the land of the dead (World of Darkness). According to Shinto mythology as related in Kojiki, this is where the dead go in the afterlife.

What is the Japanese origin of death? ›

According to Japanese folklore, every life is measured on a candle. Once the flame burns out, the person dies. The death spirits are, therefore, not able to control who lives and who dies, they just let the people know. The Shinigami were more messengers, leading the ones whose flame burned out to death.

What kind of name is shi? ›

Shi (trad. 時, simp. 时) is a Chinese surname meaning "season" or "time". It is romanized Shih in Wade–Giles, or Si in Cantonese romanization.

Is shi a first or last name? ›

Shi, also spelled Si, or Shie, Shee, Sie, Sea, See, is an uncommon Korean surname, an element in two-syllable Korean given names.

Is shi or Si Japanese? ›

Sounds closest to the English word 'she'. し, in hiragana, or シ in katakana, is one of the Japanese kana, which each represent one mora. Both represent /si/ although for phonological reasons, the actual pronunciation is 'shi'.

Does Shishi mean pee? ›

Shishi: Urine or urination, used in "go shishi" or "make shishi". The Double-Tongued Dictionary gives three possible etymologies for "shishi": imitative from the sound of urinating, Japanese reduplicated shi from shiko "urinate" (sic., probably shito 尿 "urine"), or Portuguese xixi "urinate".

Is it si or shi in Japanese? ›

Sounds closest to the English word 'she'. し, in hiragana, or シ in katakana, is one of the Japanese kana, which each represent one mora. Both represent /si/ although for phonological reasons, the actual pronunciation is 'shi'.

What is shi and Ku in Japanese? ›

Japanese numbers: 1 to 10
HiraganaEnglishLetter-by-letter breakdown
しち / ななsevenし(shi)ち(chi) / なな(nana)
はちeightは(ha/wa)ち(chi)
きゅう/くnineきゅ(kyu)う(u) /く(ku)
じゅうtenじゅ(ju)う(u)
6 more rows

What is an shi in Chinese? ›

按时 Trad. 按時 àn shí on time before deadline on schedule.

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