と

particle

and, with, if/when, (quotation)

grammatical

1. and (connecting nouns)

Connects nouns in a complete list. りんごとみかん (apples and oranges). Unlike や, と implies a complete enumeration.

コーヒーと紅茶(こうちゃ)、どちらがいいですか。

Which would you like, coffee or tea?

Listing options

りんごとバナナを買(か)いました。

I bought apples and bananas.

Listing (complete)

本(ほん)とノートを買(か)いました。

I bought a book and a notebook.

Listing (complete)

兄(あに)と姉(あね)がいます。

I have an older brother and older sister.

Listing (complete)

父(ちち)と母(はは)は共働(ともばたら)きです。

My father and mother both work.

Listing (complete)

2. with (accompaniment)

Indicates doing something together with someone. 友達(ともだち)と行(い)く (go with a friend).

友達(ともだち)と映画(えいが)を見(み)ました。

I watched a movie with my friend.

Accompaniment

母(はは)と買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)きました。

I went shopping with my mother.

Accompaniment

家族(かぞく)と一緒(いっしょ)に住(す)んでいます。

I live with my family.

Accompaniment (と一緒(いっしょ)に)

先生(せんせい)と話(はな)しました。

I talked with the teacher.

Accompaniment (mutual action)

犬(いぬ)と散歩(さんぽ)します。

I take a walk with my dog.

Accompaniment

3. quotation marker

Marks quoted speech or thoughts. 「はい」と言(い)う (say 'yes'), いいと思(おも)う (think it's good).

彼(かれ)は「分(わ)かりました」と言(い)いました。

He said, 'I understand.'

Quotation

山田(やまだ)と申(もう)します。

My name is Yamada. (formal)

Quotation with humble verb

いいと思(おも)います。

I think it's good.

Quotation (thought)

彼女(かのじょ)は「さようなら」と言(い)って、帰(かえ)りました。

She said 'goodbye' and left.

Quotation (direct speech)

難(むずか)しいと思(おも)いますか。

Do you think it's difficult?

Quotation (thought)

4. if/when (conditional)

Expresses a natural or inevitable consequence. 春(はる)になると暖(あたた)かくなる (when spring comes, it gets warm).

このボタンを押(お)すと、ドアが開(あ)きます。

If you press this button, the door opens.

Conditional (automatic result)

春(はる)になると暖(あたた)かくなります。

When spring comes, it gets warm.

Conditional (natural change)

夜(よる)になると、暗(くら)くなります。

When night comes, it gets dark.

Conditional (natural change)

右(みぎ)に曲(ま)がると、駅(えき)があります。

If you turn right, there's a station.

Conditional (directions)

この薬(くすり)を飲(の)むと、眠(ねむ)くなります。

When you take this medicine, you get sleepy.

Conditional (cause-effect)

5. as (comparison/manner)

Shows how something appears or is named. 同(おな)じと思(おも)う (think it's the same).

これと同(おな)じです。

It's the same as this.

Comparison

昨日(きのう)と違(ちが)います。

It's different from yesterday.

Comparison

予定(よてい)と違(ちが)うことがありました。

Something different from the plan happened.

Comparison

去年(きょねん)と同(おな)じ場所(ばしょ)で会(あ)いましょう。

Let's meet at the same place as last year.

Comparison (same as)

思(おも)ったとおりの結果(けっか)でした。

It was the result as I thought.

Comparison (manner)

と is one of the most versatile particles in Japanese, with five major uses.

Functions

と has five major uses:

listing — AとB, a complete/exhaustive 'A and B'
accompaniment — doing something together with someone
quotation — marks quoted speech or thought before 言(い)う, 思(おも)う, etc.
conditional — a natural or automatic consequence ('whenever/if')
comparison — the standard in 同(おな)じ / 違(ちが)う

LISTING (AとB):
Connects nouns in a complete, exhaustive list. AとB means "A and B (and nothing else)." For incomplete lists, use や instead.

ACCOMPANIMENT (～と):
Marks the person you do something with. Implies mutual participation. Compare: 友達(ともだち)と会(あ)う (meet with a friend — mutual) vs. 友達(ともだち)に会(あ)う (meet a friend — directional).

QUOTATION (～と言(い)う／思(おも)う):
Marks quoted speech or thought. Required before verbs like 言(い)う, 思(おも)う, 聞(き)く, 書(か)く. Omitting と before 思(おも)う is a common learner mistake.

CONDITIONAL (～と):
Expresses natural or automatic consequences. Cannot be used for requests or commands. Use ～たら for those instead.

COMPARISON (～と同(おな)じ／違(ちが)う):
Marks the standard of comparison: これと同(おな)じ (same as this), 昨日(きのう)と違(ちが)う (different from yesterday).

と

Functions

Related Words