と
to
と is a string that ties two things side by side
The picture A string tying two things shoulder to shoulder. It shows you what is set against what. と ties two things and says that is all of them; や pulls out only a couple as samples.
Where the picture shows up in と
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two things tied together
パンと牛乳を買いました。
pan to gyūnyū o kaimashita
I bought bread and milk.
Bread and milk dropped into one bag and the neck of the bag tied once
と means that is the whole list; や means there were others too.
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the one who comes along
友達と行きます。
tomodachi to ikimasu
I'm going with a friend.
Walking out shoulder to shoulder with a friend, both facing the same way
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the words tied to the speaker
明日休みますと伝えてください。
ashita yasumimasu to tsutaete kudasai
Please tell him I'll be off tomorrow.
Your exact words written on a slip of paper and pressed into someone's hand
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the one you hold it against
去年と同じ値段です。
kyonen to onaji nedan desu
It's the same price as last year.
Last year's receipt and today's laid side by side, the two figures held against each other
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what follows right behind
このボタンを押すと開きます。
kono botan o osu to hirakimasu
Press this button and it opens.
The button going down and the door opening right behind it
All of it in one picture
と is a string tying two things together. It ties bread and milk into one bag, ties your shoulder to a friend's, ties your exact words to the person who carries them. Hold last year's receipt against today's and the tie becomes a comparison; tie the button to the door and pressing and opening become one line. So whenever you see と, just look for what is being set against what.