Ichimon Japan Podcasts

What is Kansai-ben? (All About the Kansai Dialect) | Ichimon Japan 42

By Tony R. Vega

Posted on April 21, 2021

8 min read

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On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Kansai-ben?

Topics Discussed

What the Kansai dilaect is
The different that are found within the Kansai region of Japan
Osaka-ben vs other dialects within the Kansai-ben umbrella
The stereotype of the Ōsaka no obachan (older lady from Osaka)
Leopard print clothing
Who uses ōkini and where it is typically used
The characteristic intonation of the Kansai dialect
Switching back and forth between the “standard” Japanese dialect and the Kansai dialect
Vowel elongation in the Kansai dialect
“S” sounds being switched out for “h” sounds in the Kansai dialect
The Keihan train line
The Keihan train line’s Okeihan mascot character
The –hen suffix
How dialects from regions close in proximity to one another tend to share more similarities than dialects from regions far apart.
About nandeyanen
About aho and its usage
Hard to believe theories about the etymology of aho
About meccha
The etymology of ōkini
About shānai
About akan
The origin of akan
What rachi ga akanai means
About chau and the famous chow chow chau pun
What bokobokoegui means
What dabo means
How many people perceive the Osaka and Kyoto dialects
Usage of the Kansai dialect by yakuza
Learning the Kansai dialect
And much more!

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Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

Here are some of the English-language sources used for this episode.

Here are some of the Japanese-language sources used for this episode.

Check out the latest episode of Japan Station via the link below.

Yuji Dreams of Noodles: Chatting About Ramen, Fish & Osakana w. Restaurant Owner & Fish Expert Yuji Haraguchi | Japan Station 64

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Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC.

Yaoya
- 八百屋【やおや】 (n) greengrocer; fruit and vegetable shop
Nandedyanen
- なんでやねん (exp,int) (ksb:) what the hell?; what are you going on about?; what the hell are you doing?; you’ve got to be kidding
Meccha
- めっちゃ (ateji) (adv) (sl) (ksb:) very; extremely; excessively
Akan
- あかん (exp) (ksb:) useless; no good; hopeless
Rachi ga akanai
Shaanai
- しゃあない (exp) (ksb:) it can’t be helped; so it goes; c’est la vie
Chau
- ちゃう (int) (1) (ksb:) no; that’s wrong; it’s not like that; (exp) (2) (ksb:) isn’t it?; wasn’t it?
Chigau
- 違う【ちがう】 (v5u,vi) (1) to differ (from); to vary; (v5u,vi) (2) to not be in the usual condition; (v5u,vi) (3) to not match the correct (answer, etc.); (v5u,vi) (4) (See 話が違う) to be different from promised; (exp) (5) (ksb:) (at sentence-end; oft. as 〜のと違うか) isn’t it?; wasn’t it?; (P); 【たがう】 ; (v5u,vi) (1) to differ; to be different; (v5u,vi) (2) to run counter to; (v5u,vi) (3) to change (into something out of the ordinary)

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