しfor one thing
し piles up reasons: "it's cheap, and it's close, so…". Even a single し hints that there are more reasons you haven't said.
reasons that add up
This place is cheap, and it's close to the station, so I come here a lot.
one reason, more unsaid
This room's big, for one thing. Let's go with this one.
stopping at し
Sorry. I've got an exam tomorrow, for one thing.
How to form it
Plain form + し
行くし, 安いし, 忙しかったし, 行かないし. A noun or a な-adjective needs だ first: 休みだし, 静かだし. In polite speech the reasons can be polite too: ですし, ますし.
Reasons that add up
Each し adds one more point, and all of them back up the same conclusion. も often comes along with it: "this too, and that too".
It's raining, and it's windy too, so I'm not going out today.
Tanaka is a doctor, and she explains things carefully too, so I feel safe asking her advice.
The price is reasonable and it comes with a guarantee, so this is the one I'd recommend.
A salesclerk, with ですし and ますし.
The food here is good, and the staff are friendly too.
No "so" follows. Here し is just "and".
One し: a reason, and more unsaid
Leaving the rest unsaid makes it softer than から, which names the reason outright.
We still have time, so let's take a short break.
から: this is the reason.
We've still got time, for one thing, so let's take a short break.
し: this is one reason. Perhaps everyone looks tired, too.
Stopping at し
In conversation people often stop at し and leave the conclusion unsaid: the reason trails off, and the other person fills in the rest. It is a soft way to turn something down or explain yourself. You'll hear it all the time, but it doesn't go in an essay or a report.
Want to go on to one more place tonight?
Sorry, I can't tonight. I've got an early start tomorrow and everything.
Two things to watch
だ after a noun or a な-adjective
Not said: 今日は
(It's my day off and the weather's nice too, so let's go out.)
It is 休みだし.
し is not "and then"
し joins points that back each other up. Things you did one after another take the て-form.
Not said: 朝起きたし、
(I got up, washed my face and went to work.)
朝起きて、顔を洗って、会社に行きました.
Close neighbours
からN5
One reason, named outright. The last reason in a し list often takes it.
This place is cheap, and the food's good, so I like it.
て・くて・でN5
Plain "and" between descriptions. It doesn't offer them as reasons for anything.
This bag is light and sturdy.
それにN4
"Besides", at the start of a new sentence. It adds one more point the way し does.
This room is bright. Besides, you can see the sea from the window.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
明日は
Choose an answer to see why.
2A friend asks you out tonight and you answer like this. What have you told them?
今日は
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
One thing after another
A し list is also how people grumble about a run of bad luck.
It rained, the train was late… what a day.
More sentences
This town is quiet and has lots of parks, so it's a nice place to live.
This bag is sturdy and light, so it's handy for traveling.
It's raining hard and the streets are dark, so I'm taking a taxi home.
This room is close to the station and gets plenty of sun, so I'll take it.
This library is quiet, the seats are roomy, and it's a comfortable place to be.