Connecting Nouns with

In English, we place "and" between the items we are listing. Japanese does something very similar with と. However, Japanese is a "post-positional" language. This means the particle always follows the word it relates to. To connect Noun A and Noun B, you simply place と right after the first noun. It acts as a bridge. If you have a longer list, you can just keep adding と after each noun except the very last one. One of the most important things to remember is that と implies an exhaustive list. When you use it, you are telling the listener that these are the only items in the set. If you say "my mom and dad," you are implying that's the whole group you're talking about. It’s a complete package deal, no surprises included!

1. 1Creating a list with と is as easy as building with Lego bricks. You don't need to change the nouns at all. There are no plurals or genders to worry about in Japanese! Just follow these steps:
2. 2Pick your first noun (e.g., ペン - pen).
3. 3Attach the particle と immediately after it.
4. 4Add your second noun (e.g., ノート - notebook).
5. 5If you are finished, stop there: ペンとノート.
6. 6To add a third item, add another と after the second noun: ペンとノートと辞書 (Pen, notebook, and dictionary).

You will find yourself using と constantly in daily life. It’s perfect for real-world scenarios like ordering food at a restaurant. If you want sushi and green tea, you’d say お寿司と緑茶. It’s also the standard way to introduce people. If you are at a party with your friends Tanaka and Sato, you would introduce them as 田中さんと佐藤さん. You can use it for objects in your room, places you want to visit, or even abstract concepts like "peace and love." It is used whenever you want to list specific, concrete things and you want your list to feel finished and complete. It’s also the right choice for fixed pairs, like お父さんとお母さん (mom and dad) or 右と左 (right and left). Even native speakers use this hundreds of times a day, so you’re in good company!

This is where many learners trip up! と has a very strict "Nouns Only" policy. Do not try to use it to connect verbs. If you want to say "I eat and drink," you cannot use と. That requires the ~て form of verbs, which you’ll learn later. Using と for actions is like trying to use a screwdriver to eat soup—it’s just the wrong tool for the job. Similarly, don't use it to connect adjectives. You can't say "the car is big と red." Most importantly, don't use と if your list is just a few examples. If you want to say "I like apples and oranges (among other things)," と is too precise. It makes it sound like those are the only two fruits you like in the whole world! In those cases, you’ll want a different particle called や.

The most famous mistake for beginners is the "Trailing と." In English, we often end a list with "...and B." But in Japanese, you never end a list with the particle. You don't say AとBと. That sounds like you’re about to say a third thing but suddenly forgot what it was! It leaves the listener hanging. Another mistake is trying to translate the English "and" too literally. Just because we use "and" for everything doesn't mean Japanese does. Remember the "Nouns Only" rule! If you try to glue your actions together with it, it'll be a total mess. Finally, don't forget the particle entirely. A B doesn't mean "A and B" in Japanese; it just sounds like two random words floating in space.

You might eventually hear the particle や. While と is for a complete, 100% finished list, や is for an open-ended list. Think of と as a closed box and や as a sample platter. If you use と, you are being a perfectionist. If you use や, you are being casual and giving examples. There is also the particle も. While A と B is a simple "A and B," A も B も means "Both A and B." Use も when you want to add a little extra emphasis, like you're surprised or excited that both things are included. For most daily situations, though, the simple and reliable と is your best bet for a clean, clear list.