What is と?
The particle と is one of those small words that punches way above its weight. It handles several completely different jobs in Japanese, and you'll run into all of them from day one.
At its core, と connects things together. It links nouns into a complete list ("A and B"), attaches you to another person ("with someone"), and hooks quoted speech or thoughts onto verbs like 言う (to say) and 思う (to think). It also shows up in comparisons when you want to ask which of two things wins out.
On top of all that, と also has a conditional use ("when/if") that we cover separately.
The trick with と is recognizing which job it's doing based on context. Our guide to と, から, まで, and よ covers と alongside other commonly confused particles. A noun before と followed by another noun? That's "and." A person before と followed by an action verb? That's "with." A sentence ending in と before 言う or 思う? That's a quotation. Once you see the patterns, they click fast.
Main Uses
1. Connecting Nouns ("and")
When you list nouns with と, you're giving an exhaustive list. Meaning you're saying these items and nothing else. This is different from や, which implies there's more you're not mentioning.
Pattern: [Noun] + と + [Noun] (+ と + [Noun]...)
If you say りんごとバナナを買った, you bought apples and bananas. That's the full list, nothing else.
2. "With" Someone
Put と after a person to say you did something together with them.
Pattern: [Person] + と + [Verb]
This is straightforward. 友達と映画を見た means you watched a movie with your friend. The と marks who you were with.
3. Quotation Marker
This is where と gets really useful. It attaches what someone said, thought, or is called to a verb. You'll see it constantly with 言う (to say), 思う (to think), and 聞く (to ask/hear).
Pattern: [Quote] + と + 言う／思う／聞く
The quote can be an exact statement or a general idea. Japanese doesn't stress the difference between direct and indirect quotes the way English does. と handles both.
4. Comparison (どちらの方が)
When comparing two things, と connects the two items being compared.
Pattern: [A] と [B] と、どちら（の方）が ～？
This is your go-to pattern for "which is more...?" questions.
Example Sentences
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パンとコーヒーを注文した。 (pan to koohii wo chuumon shita.) — I ordered bread and coffee.
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兄と弟がいます。 (ani to otouto ga imasu.) — I have an older brother and a younger brother.
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昨日、友達と買い物に行った。 (kinou, tomodachi to kaimono ni itta.) — Yesterday, I went shopping with my friend.
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母と電話で話した。 (haha to denwa de hanashita.) — I talked with my mom on the phone.
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先生は「宿題を出してください」と言った。 (sensei wa "shukudai wo dashite kudasai" to itta.) — The teacher said "please turn in your homework."
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明日は雨だと思う。 (ashita wa ame da to omou.) — I think it'll rain tomorrow.
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東京と大阪と、どちらの方が大きいですか？ (toukyou to oosaka to, dochira no hou ga ookii desu ka?) — Which is bigger, Tokyo or Osaka?
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彼は「大丈夫」と言ったけど、心配だ。 (kare wa "daijoubu" to itta kedo, shinpai da.) — He said "I'm fine," but I'm worried.