と (To) Particle

The と (to) particle is one of the most versatile and essential components of Japanese grammar. It has several important functions, including:

  • Connecting nouns (“and”)
  • Indicating companionship (“with”)
  • Marking direct and indirect quotations
  • Expressing conditions and natural consequences

Understanding the nuances of と will significantly enhance your ability to construct natural, precise, and fluent Japanese sentences. Let’s break down its various roles with explanations and examples!

Connecting Nouns (And)

One of the primary uses of と is to connect two or more nouns, functioning similarly to “and” in English.

Structure:

[Noun 1] と [Noun 2]

Examples:

犬と猫がいます。 
(Inu to neko ga imasu.)
There is a dog and a cat.

日本と韓国に旅行しました。 
(Nihon to Kankoku ni ryokō shimashita.)
I traveled to Japan and South Korea.

朝ごはんにパンとコーヒーを飲みます。
(Asagohan ni pan to kōhī o nomimasu.)
I have bread and coffee for breakfast.

Note:

⚠️ と vs. や vs. も

  • と = “and” (complete list)
  • や = “and” (partial list, implying there are more items)
  • も = “both” (or “also” when used separately)

Example:

犬と猫がいます。 
(There is a dog and a cat—ONLY these two.)

犬や猫がいます。 
(There are dogs, cats, and possibly other animals too.)

犬も猫も好きです。 
(I like both dogs and cats.)

Indicating Companionship (With)

When used with people or animals, と expresses the idea of doing something together or being in the company of someone. It would be the equivalent to using “with” with English.

Structure:

[Person/Animal] と [Verb]

Examples:

友達と遊びます。 
(Tomodachi to asobimasu.)
I play with my friend.

家族と映画を見ました。 
(Kazoku to eiga o mimashita.)
I watched a movie with my family.

犬と散歩します。 
(Inu to sanpo shimasu.)
I take a walk with my dog.

Note:

と vs. 一緒に (together, issho ni) – What’s the Difference?

  • と simply means “with” (neutral).
  • 一緒に (issho ni) emphasizes “together” (stronger sense of companionship).

Example:

友達と映画を見ました。 
(I watched a movie with my friend.)

友達と一緒に映画を見ました。 
(I watched a movie together with my friend.) (Emphasizes doing it together.)

Quotations and Thoughts (Said/Thought That…)

The と particle is also used to mark direct or indirect quotations and thoughts. It functions like quotation marks in English but is accompanied by verbs such as いう (iu, to say), おもう (omou, to think), or きく (kiku, to hear).

Structure:

[Quoted Speech or Thought] と [Verb]

Examples:

彼が「ありがとう」と言いました。 
(Kare ga 'arigatou' to iimashita.)
He said, "Thank you." (Direct quotation)

日本に行きたいと思います。 
(Nihon ni ikitai to omoimasu.)
I think I want to go to Japan. (Indirect thought)

先生が来ると聞きました。 
(Sensei ga kuru to kikimashita.)
I heard that the teacher is coming. (Indirect quotation)

Casual Quotation Marker

There’s also a more casual version which is って

彼は明日来るって言ってたよ。
(Kare wa ashita kuru tte itteta yo.)
He said he's coming tomorrow. (Casual quotation)

あの店は美味しいって聞いた。
(Ano mise wa oishii tte kiita.)
I heard that store is delicious. (Casual quotation)

彼女は元気だって。
(Kanojo wa genki da tte.)
She said she's doing well. (Casual quotation)

Expressing Conditions (with と)

The と particle can indicate natural consequences, where one action leads inevitably to another. This usage corresponds to “if” or “when” in English.

The result is something that naturally happens whenever the first condition is met.

Structure:

[Condition] と [Result]

Examples:

春になると、桜が咲きます。 
(Haru ni naru to, sakura ga sakimasu.)
When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom. (Natural occurrence)

このボタンを押すと、ドアが開きます。 
(Kono botan o osu to, doa ga akimasu.)
If you press this button, the door opens. (Guaranteed outcome)

夜10時を過ぎると、お店が閉まります。 
(Yoru jūji o sugiru to, omise ga shimarimasu.)
(When it gets past 10 PM, the stores close.)

Note:

と vs. ば vs. たら vs. なら (Different “Ifs”)

  • と = Inevitable/Natural Result (e.g., “When you heat water, it boils.”)
  • ば = General Conditional (e.g., “If you eat less, you’ll lose weight.”)
  • たら = Specific Condition (e.g., “If you go, I’ll come too.”)
  • なら = Hypothetical Suggestion (e.g., “If it’s sushi, I recommend this place.”)

Example:

ボタンを押すと、ドアが開きます。 
(If you press the button, the door opens automatically.)

ボタンを押せば、ドアが開くかもしれません。 
(If you press the button, the door might open.)