と (And / With / Quote)並列・引用
と serves four major roles: listing nouns exhaustively, marking a companion/partner, quoting speech or thoughts, and forming natural/automatic conditional sentences. Each use is distinct and easy to identify from context.
と serves four major roles: listing nouns exhaustively, marking a companion/partner, quoting speech or thoughts, and forming natural/automatic conditional sentences. Each use is distinct and easy to identify from context.
Use 1: Exhaustive listing (and)
と lists items as a complete set: りんごとバナナを買った (bought apples and bananas — only those two). Unlike や (which is non-exhaustive), と implies the list is complete. If you bought only apples and bananas, use と. If you bought those and possibly more, use や.
Use 2: Companion (with)
と marks who you do something with: 友達と映画を見た (watched a movie with a friend), 彼女と話した (talked with her). This implies mutual/reciprocal action. For one-sided actions, に is more appropriate: 先生に聞いた (asked the teacher — one-sided).
Use 3: Quotation marker
と marks quoted speech, thoughts, and sounds: 行くと言った (said they'd go), 面白いと思う (I think it’s interesting), ドアがバタンと閉まった (the door slammed shut — onomatopoeia). The quoted content comes before と, always in plain form for speech/thoughts.
Plain form before と
The quoted clause must be in plain form, even if the main verb is polite: ✓ 行くと言いました, ✗ 行きますと言いました. This is a hard rule — masu form before と sounds very unnatural.
Use 4: Natural/automatic conditional
と creates "whenever X, Y naturally follows" conditionals: 春になると桜が咲く (when spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom), ボタンを押すとドアが開く (if you press the button, the door opens). と-conditionals express natural, habitual, or automatic results — not one-time decisions or requests.
と vs たら vs ば vs なら
と = natural/automatic result (no choice involved). たら = general "if/when" (most versatile). ば = hypothetical condition. なら = "if it’s the case that" (topic-based). For advice or requests, use たら, not と: ✓ 暇だったら来てね, ✗ 暇だと来てね.
Example sentences
コーヒーと紅茶、どちらがいいですか。
Koohii to koucha, dochira ga ii desu ka.
Coffee and tea, which would you prefer?
と = exhaustive listing (only these two options)
昨日彼と食事に行きました。
Kinou kare to shokuji ni ikimashita.
I went to eat with him yesterday.
と = companion
先生は「明日テストがある」と言いました。
Sensei wa "ashita tesuto ga aru" to iimashita.
The teacher said there's a test tomorrow.
と = quotation marker
暑くなると、アイスが食べたくなる。
Atsuku naru to, aisu ga tabetaku naru.
When it gets hot, I want to eat ice cream.
と = natural conditional
面白いと思います。
Omoshiroi to omoimasu.
I think it's interesting.
と quotes the thought
Common mistakes
友達や田中さんを招待した (meaning exactly 2 people)
友達と田中さんを招待した
If the list is complete (only these two), use と. や implies there are more people not mentioned.
行きますと言いました
行くと言いました
Quoted speech/thought before と must be in plain form, not polite form.
暇だと来てね (come if you're free)
暇だったら来てね
と-conditionals express natural/automatic results. For invitations and requests, use たら.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between と and や for listing?
と gives a complete, exhaustive list (A and B — only these). や gives a non-exhaustive list (A and B and stuff like that). りんごとバナナを買った = bought exactly apples and bananas. りんごやバナナを買った = bought apples, bananas, and other things.
Can I use と for more than 2 items?
Yes. AとBとCとD — you can chain as many items as you want. Each item gets と. However, long chains sound heavy; natives might use や or rephrasing for longer lists.
How do I know if と means "and," "with," "quote," or "if"?
Context makes it clear: (1) Between nouns = "and/with." (2) After a clause + 言う/思う = quotation. (3) After a clause + result = conditional. These uses never overlap in ambiguous ways.
Which particle gives an exhaustive list?