と“and” / “with” / quotation
と has three very common beginner uses: 1) Noun + と + noun: “A and B” (complete list) 2) With/together: ともだちと いきます (go with a friend) 3) Quotation: 「〜」と いいます (say “~”) / 〜と おもいます (think that ~) At N5, focus mainly on (1) and (2).
Key points
Quick reminders for how to use it.
- Use と to connect nouns in a complete “A and B” list.
- Use と to mean “with/together” (partner in an action).
- Quotation と appears in patterns like 「〜」と いいます, but keep it simple at first.
Patterns
Common structures you’ll see.
Aと B
A to B
A and B
Note: Use for a complete list (not “and so on”).
〜と いっしょに 〜します。
~ to issho ni ~ shimasu.
Do ~ together with ~.
〜と いきます。
~ to ikimasu.
Go with ~.
「〜」と いいます。
"~" to iimasu.
Say “~”. / (My name) is ~.
Common mistakes
Watch out for these.
- ×Using と when you mean “and others”; Japanese often uses や for non-complete lists (learn later).
- ×Mixing と (with someone) and で (by means). と is a partner; で is a tool/means.
- ×Forgetting と before いっしょに (often written as と いっしょに).
Examples
Real sentences with notes.
パンと みずを かいます。
pan to mizu o kaimasu.
I buy bread and water.
👉 と connects two nouns in a complete list.
りんごと バナナが すきです。
ringo to banana ga suki desu.
I like apples and bananas.
👉 List of liked items connected by と.
ともだちと えいがを みます。
tomodachi to eiga o mimasu.
I watch a movie with a friend.
👉 ともだち is your partner in the action → と.
おかあさんと いっしょに かえります。
okaasan to issho ni kaerimasu.
I go home together with my mother.
👉 いっしょに emphasizes doing it together.
せんせいと はなします。
sensei to hanashimasu.
I talk with the teacher.
👉 Conversation partner → と.
わたしは 「りな」と いいます。
watashi wa "rina" to iimasu.
My name is Rina.
👉 Quotation と marks the name you say.
「はい」と いいました。
"hai" to iimashita.
I said “yes.”
👉 と marks quoted words.
Compare with
Related particles to review next.