日本語のおしゃべり

Japanese Language
「Particles」
「Part 19」

「To・と」
「Part 1」

「A」

To・と, when following a noun can be used to indicate such meanings as "and," "with," along with sets of names.

「１」
To・と usually joins two or three nouns (not including phrases and clauses) which represents "and."

Examples:
アランさんとポールさんはフランス人です。
Aran-san to Pōru-san wa Furansu-jin desu.
Alain and Paul are French

白いゆりと赤いばらの花を買いましょう。
Shiroi yuri to akai bara no hana o kaimashou.
Let's buy some white lilies and red roses.

「２」
To・と can be used to indicate a comparison or contrast (e.g. when a choice is asked for): "and, or."

Examples:
この会社とその会社とでは、資本金が違います。
Kono kaisha to sono kaisha to de wa, shihon-kin ga chigaimasu.
This company and that company have different amounts of capital.

林檎とみかんとどちらがすきですか。
Ringo to mikan to dochira ga suki desu ka.
Which do you like better, apples or mandarin oranges？

「３」
To・と can represent: "together, with."

Examples:
社長は部長と食事をしています。
Shachō wa buchō to shokuji o shite imasu.
The company President is eating out with the division manager.

明日この問題について、先生と話すつもりです。
Ashita kono mondai ni tsuite, sensei to hanasu tsumori desu.
Tomorrow I intend to discuss this problem with my teacher.

「４」
To・と can follow an expression of quantity, and reinforce the negative idea of a sentence: "(not) as much."

Examples:
あの山に登るには，二時間とかかりません。
Ano yama ni noboru ni wa, ni-jikan to kakarimasen.
It won't take as long as [won't take even] two hours to climb that mountain.

あの会社とは二度と取引をしたくない。
Ano kaisha to wa nido to torihiki o shitaku nai.
I don't want to have dealings with that company ever again.
「Lit., I don't want to have dealings with that company two times, because I've dealt with them once already, and know what they're like.」

「５」
To・と can be used to indicate a change or result, used commonly in the phrase to naru. (Become)

Examples:
オリンピックの開会式の日となった。
Orinpikku no kaikai-shiki no hi to natta.
The day of the opening ceremony of the Olympics has arrived.
「Lit., It became the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympics.」

ことしの海外旅行者は、1000万人となった。
Kotoshi no kaigai-ryokōsha wa, issen-man-nin to natta. 
[The number of] overseas travelers this year has reached ten million.

This concludes part one of the particle 「To・と」hope to see you back for the rest!

ʿʿ˅⁽ˆ⁰ˆ˺ ⁾˺　こゆうきあいはら　ʿʿ˅⁽ˆ⁰ˆ˺ ⁾˺