ないし

な

い

し

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

conjunction

from ... to; between ... and

usually written using kana alone

Used to express a range, often with numbers, times, or quantities. Formal or written style; in casual speech から is more common.

参さん加か者しゃは20人にんないし30人にん程てい度ど

を

見み

込こ

ん

で

い

ます

。

We expect around 20 to 30 participants.

この書しょ類るいは3日かないし1週間いっしゅうかんで処しょ理りされます。

This document will be processed in three days to a week.

2

conjunction

or

usually written using kana alone

Used to list alternatives, similar to または but more formal and often seen in legal or official documents. Can also imply 'and/or'.

本ほん人にんないし代だい理り人にんが手て続つづきを行おこなってください。
Please have the person themselves or a representative complete the procedure.
電でん話わないしメールでご連れん絡らくください。
Please contact us by phone or email.

Usage patterns

〈数かず〉ないし〈数かず〉from (number) to (number)
参さん加か者しゃは五ご人にんないし十じゅう人にん程てい度どです。
There are roughly five to ten participants.
〈物もの〉ないし〈物もの〉(thing) or (thing), formal alternative
会かい議ぎは水すい曜よう日びないし木もく曜よう日びに行おこなわれる。
The meeting will be held on Wednesday or Thursday.
〈事こと〉ないし〈事こと〉(matter) or (matter), used in formal/legal listing of alternatives
故こ意いないし過か失しつによる損そん害がいは賠ばい償しょうの対たい象しょうとなる。
Damage caused by intent or negligence is subject to compensation.

Kanji

乃from, possessive particle, whereupon
至climax, arrive, proceed

Related words

またはN4sense 2
または is the everyday neutral word for 'or', while ないし is more formal and often carries a sense of range or official alternatives.
からN5sense 1
から is the ordinary casual way to mark 'from...to' with numbers or times, while ないし is its stiffer, written equivalent.
もしくはN1sense 2
もしくは and ないし are both formal ways to say 'or', often in legal or official writing, though もしくは is slightly more common in everyday formal contexts.

Word family

ないしは
or; or else

Written forms

ないしUsage95%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 乃至 is rare and mainly seen in formal or older texts.
乃ない至しUsage5%
Kanji form; rarely used in modern writing, mostly found in legal or very formal contexts.

Etymology

The word is the Sino-Japanese reading of 乃至, a Classical Chinese and Buddhist expression meaning ‘up to’ or ‘from … to’; its Japanese use later broadened to ‘or.’