Meaning & Usage
The particle と (to) does three things: it links nouns like "and," marks a companion in a shared activity, and flags quoted speech or thoughts. Learn these three uses and a large portion of everyday Japanese opens up.
The first use connects nouns — Japanese's version of "and." Unlike English, where one "and" covers a whole list, と goes between every pair of nouns. More importantly, と signals a complete list: you are naming everything. Bought apples and bananas along with other things? Use や instead. At N5, treat と as the connector for a full, closed list.
The second use marks a companion — the person you do something with. Go somewhere with a friend, study with a classmate, eat with your family: all of these use と. Don't mix it up with で, which marks the means or tool for an action. と answers "with whom"; で answers "how" or "using what."
The third use is as a quotation marker. It lands at the end of quoted content — speech, thoughts, questions — right before a verb like 言う (to say), 思う (to think), or 聞く (to hear/ask). This pattern runs through casual conversation and formal writing alike. You will see it constantly.
One practical point: と never changes form. Casual speech, formal letter — it stays と. The vocabulary and verb endings around it shift to match the register; the particle itself doesn't.
Structure & Formation
Each of the three uses follows its own pattern. Here is a breakdown of how each one works:
Use 1: Listing Nouns (And)
| Pattern | Noun A + と + Noun B |
|---|---|
| Extended | Noun A + と + Noun B + と + Noun C |
| Example | 本と雑誌 — book and magazine |
With three or more nouns, と goes between every pair. This pattern only connects nouns — not verbs, not adjectives. と means the list is complete; nothing is left out.
Use 2: Together With (With)
| Pattern | Person/Thing + と + Verb |
|---|---|
| With 一緒に | Person + と + 一緒に + Verb |
| Example | 友達と行く — go with a friend |
The person comes before と. Adding 一緒に (issho ni — together) after と is optional but natural. It adds warmth and emphasis to the shared nature of the activity.
Use 3: Quotation Marker
| Pattern | 「Quoted content」+ と + Verb of saying/thinking |
|---|---|
| With plain form | Plain-form sentence + と + 思う/言う |
| Example | 「こんにちは」と言った — said "hello" |
The quoted content can be a single word, a phrase, or a full sentence in plain form. と always comes immediately after the closing bracket (」) or the quoted clause, directly before the verb. Common verbs in this pattern: 言う (to say), 思う (to think), 聞く (to hear/ask), 書く (to write), 読む (to read).
Example Sentences
Use 1: と as "And" — Listing Nouns
猫と犬が好きです。
Neko to inu ga suki desu.
I like cats and dogs.
机の上に本とノートがあります。
Tsukue no ue ni hon to nooto ga arimasu.
There are a book and a notebook on the desk.
朝ごはんはパンと卵と牛乳です。
Asagohan wa pan to tamago to gyuunyuu desu.
Breakfast is bread, eggs, and milk.
日本語と英語を勉強しています。
Nihongo to eigo wo benkyou shite imasu.
I am studying Japanese and English.
Use 2: と as "With" — Doing Things Together
友達と映画を見ました。
Tomodachi to eiga wo mimashita.
I watched a movie with my friend.
家族と一緒に食べます。
Kazoku to issho ni tabemasu.
I eat together with my family.
先生と話しました。
Sensei to hanashimashita.
I talked with the teacher.
田中さんと買い物に行きます。
Tanaka-san to kaimono ni ikimasu.
I'm going shopping with Tanaka-san.
Use 3: と as a Quotation Marker
「おはようございます」と言いました。
"Ohayou gozaimasu" to iimashita.
I said "Good morning."
彼は「明日また来る」と言いました。
Kare wa "Ashita mata kuru" to iimashita.
He said "I'll come again tomorrow."
今日は雨だと思います。
Kyou wa ame da to omoimasu.
I think it will rain today.
「試験に合格した」と聞きました。
"Shiken ni goukaku shita" to kikimashita.
I heard that (they) passed the exam.
彼女の名前はさくらだと思います。
Kanojo no namae wa Sakura da to omoimasu.
I think her name is Sakura.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using と to Connect Adjectives
❌ この部屋はきれいとおおきいです。
✅ この部屋はきれいでおおきいです。
The particle と connects nouns only — not adjectives. To chain adjectives, use their conjunctive form: drop the final い and add くて for い-adjectives; add で for な-adjectives. きれい is a な-adjective, so it becomes きれいで.
Mistake 2: Confusing と (Exhaustive) with や (Partial)
❌ スーパーでりんごとバナナを買いました。(when you actually bought other things too)
✅ スーパーでりんごやバナナを買いました。(when you also bought other things)
と says the list is the whole story — apples and bananas, nothing else. If other items were also in the basket, と gives the wrong impression. Use や to signal "things like apples and bananas among others." A small difference in particle, a meaningful difference in meaning.
Mistake 3: Forgetting と After Quoted Speech
❌ 「行く」言いました。
✅ 「行く」と言いました。
The particle と is required between the quoted content and the verb of saying, thinking, or hearing. English has no equivalent connector here, which makes it easy to forget. Whenever you use 言う, 思う, or 聞く after a quote, check that と is in place.
Mistake 4: Using と Instead of で for Means of Transport
❌ バスと学校に行きます。
✅ バスで学校に行きます。
A bus is a method of getting somewhere, not a companion. Use で when expressing how you travel or what tool you use. と is for people you act alongside; で is for the means.
Mistake 5: Wrong Word Order with the Quotation と
❌ と彼は「また来る」言いました。
✅ 彼は「また来る」と言いました。
The particle と must come immediately after the closing bracket (」) or the quoted plain-form clause — never at the start of the sentence. The order is fixed: quoted content → と → verb of communication.
Cultural Notes
Perhaps the most culturally loaded pattern built on と is と思います (to omoimasu) — "I think that..." Japanese speakers reach for this phrase constantly, even when they are quite certain of something. Framing a statement as personal opinion rather than declared fact is considered considerate and humble. When someone says と思います, they're not hedging; they're being socially aware.
The "with" use of と also reflects something embedded in Japanese social life: the weight given to shared activity. Mentioning who you did something with is a natural part of everyday conversation. Phrases pairing と with 一緒に (issho ni — together) carry extra warmth. Telling someone you did something 「友達と一緒に」 communicates not just a fact about company, but a sense of closeness.
In very casual spoken Japanese, と in quotation patterns can blur or shorten. と思う might come out as って思う or just って among close friends. Get the standard form solid before exploring those colloquial shortcuts.
Related Grammar Points
- や — Non-Exhaustive And (Listing Particle) (Grammar N5)
- か — Question Marker (Grammar N5)
- しか — Nothing But, Only (Negative) (Grammar N5)
- に (ni) — Direction, Time, and Location Particle (Grammar N5)
- だけ — Only, Just, Merely (Grammar N5)
- の — Possessive & Noun Modifier Particle (Grammar N5)
JLPT Tips
On the JLPT N5, と appears across all three sections: vocabulary, grammar, and reading. The noun-listing and "with" functions are tested most often at this level, though the quotation use turns up in short reading passages too. Practice identifying which of the three meanings applies from context alone.
A reliable approach for grammar multiple-choice: if と sits between two nouns with no following verb, it's the listing use. If と follows a name or pronoun and is followed by an action verb, it's the "with" use. If と comes after a closing bracket or a plain-form clause, it's the quotation marker. Train that pattern recognition and you'll move through these questions quickly.
In reading comprehension, watch for sentences ending with と思います or と言いました. Questions often ask what a character thinks or what was said — と is your signal that reported content follows.
To build real intuition, try writing three sentences a day: one listing two things you own with と, one describing an activity you did with someone, and one opinion using と思います. Cover all three uses consistently and the particle will stop requiring effort on exam day.