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.

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.

Kanji

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

Similar words

または
または is the standard neutral 'or' for everyday use; ないし is more formal and often implies a range or a choice between alternatives in official contexts.
から
から is the common casual way to express 'from ... to' with numbers or times; ないし is its formal written counterpart.

Etymology

Derived from classical Japanese, originally a combination of the particles な (emphatic) and し (adverbial). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it has been used as a formal conjunction since the Heian period.