Kansai Dialect - Cool Japanese Words to Surprise the Locals on Your Next Trip to Western Japan!

What Is the Kansai Dialect?

The Kansai dialect, called “Kansai-ben,” is arguably the most famous of all Japanese dialects. It’s spoken in the Kansai region, which is made up of six prefectures: Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, Nara, and Wakayama. People abroad often confuse it with the Osaka dialect (Osaka-ben) which doesn’t represent the entire Kansai region. Both Kansai-ben and Osaka-ben use words and intonation different from standard Japanese, and if you take the time to learn a little before traveling, you’ll surely have a more enjoyable trip!

What Do Japanese People Think About the Kansai Dialect?

“It sounds a little angry and scary…”

Standard Japanese is pronounced with steady intonation while the Kansai dialect is more rhythmical and modulated. People from Kansai also tend to talk loudly in public, so the rest of Japan often describes their dialect as somewhat “angry.”

“The Kansai dialect (especially the Osaka variety) sounds fun, like how a comedian would speak!”

People from Kansai are known for speaking very fast and having a sense of humor. Even a regular, everyday conversation can be fun! That’s because the Kansai region, particularly Osaka, has long been a place of thriving commerce where communication was one of the most important skills to have. Even today, the people of Kansai tend to place a higher value on being fun than serious.

Additionally, so many people in the world of Japanese showbiz, especially comedians, come from Kansai. This is why Kansai-ben tends to be associated with comedy.

Basic Kansai Phrases You Should Memorize Before Your Trip!

Below are some common words and phrases from the Kansai dialect and their pronunciation, which will undoubtedly come in handy during a trip to western Japan. Memorize them along with their intonation and you’ll soon be speaking like a local!

Everyday Kansai Dialect Words and Phrases

Word/Phrase	Meaning	How to Use It
おおきに Ookini	Thank you	When thanking someone for something
さいなら Sainara	Goodbye	When bidding farewell
ほんま Honma	Real, True, Genuine	「それ、ほんま？！」 “Sore, honma?!” (Is that true?!)
めっちゃ Meccha	Very, Super	「めっちゃ美味しい！」 “Meccha oishii!” (Super tasty!)
ようけ ぎょうさん Youke, Gyousan	A lot	「ぎょうさん（ようけ）食べたわ。」 “Gyosan (youke) tabeta wa” (I ate a lot)
ぼちぼち Bochi-bochi	So-so, Not bad, Alright (When someone asks how you have been)	「ぼちぼちでんな。」 “Bochi-bochi denna” (Not too bad)
あかん Akan	Cannot, Must not, Not allowed, Stop	「それはあかんわ～。」             “Sore wa akan wa” (That's not allowed)
かまへん Kamahen	I don’t mind, It’s no problem	「かまへん、かまへん！」  “Kamahen, kamahen!” (I really don’t mind!)
ええ Ee	OK, Good, Fine (When agreeing to something, affirming something, or indicating you’re listening to the other person)	「ええで！」 「その靴ええやん。」           “Ee de!” (Alright!) “Sono kutsu ee yan” (Those shoes are nice)
はよ Hayo	Quickly, Promptly, Early	「はよ行くで」 “Hayo iku de” (Let’s hurry up)
なんでやねん Nande Yanen	Why?, You've got to be kidding me!, What the... (When reacting with humor to something the other person said)	「なんでやねん！」 “Nande yanen!” (What the..?!)
おもろい Omoroi	Interesting	「めっちゃおもろいやん！」 “Meccha omoroi yan!” (That’s super interesting!)
ちゃう Chau	Wrong	「ちゃうで。」 “Chau de” (That’s wrong)

 

Words and Phrases Used in Restaurants and (Friendly) Business Settings

Word/Phrase	Meaning	How to Use It
まいど Maido	Welcome, Thank you for coming (Said with a lot of energy)	「まいど！」 “Maido!” (Welcome!)
なんぼ Nanbo	Used when inquiring about the price or quantity of something	「これ、なんぼ？」 “Kore, nanbo?” (How much is this?)
アテ Ate	Food for snacking on while drinking	「アテないんか？」 “Ate nainka?” (What, no snacks?)
突き出し Tsukidashi	Food in izakaya-style bars served as soon as a customer sits down, Appetizer (also called “otoshi”)	「この突き出し、おいしいなぁ〜。」 “Kono tsukidashi, oishii naa” (This appetizer is delicious)
炊いたん Taitan	Nimono (boiled or stewed food)	「大根の炊いたん」 “Daikon no taitan” (Daikon radish nimono)

 

Other

Word/Phrase	Meaning	How to Use It
どんつき Dontsuki	End of a street, road, or hall, Dead end	「この道を真っ直ぐ行ったどんつきにあるで。」 “Kono michi wo massugu itta dontsuki ni aru de” (It’s straight down the end of the street)
しょうみ ぶっちゃけ Shoumi Bucchake	Frankly, To tell the truth, To be honest	「ぶっちゃけどうなん？」 “Bucchake dou nan?” (Be honest, what do you think?)
しゃあない Shaanai	Can’t be helped, Hopeless	「そら、しゃあないわ。」 “Sora, shaanai wa” (It can’t be helped)
しょうもない Shoumonai	Worthless, Useless, Silly, Ridiculous	「しょうもないなぁ〜。」 “Shomonai naa...” (This is ridiculous...)
ほかす Hokasu	To throw away, To dispose of	「このゴミ、ほかしといて。」 “Kono gomi, hokashitoite” (Throw this garbage away)
なおす Naosu	To tidy up	「なおしといてや。」 “Naoshitoiteya” (Tidy this up)

 

Sentence Endings in the Kansai Dialect

Like standard Japanese, the Kansai dialect uses “desu” and “masu” at the end of sentences in formal settings. However, when talking with close friends or in other informal situations, Kansai people use sentence endings like “ya,” “yaro,” “yana,” “yade,” “nen,” or “yanen.” There are nuanced differences between each but they roughly mean the same thing.

You can easily practice some Kansai dialect right now! Say the name of an object in Japanese and follow it up with a “ya!” like “___ ya!”, which means “It’s a ___!” If you use it during a trip to the Kansai region, you’ll quickly make friends and impress locals!

Unique Kansai Expressions

The Kansai region has its own unique nicknames for a number of things different from the rest of Japan. For instance, they call McDonald’s “makudo,” which is known as “makku” in the Kanto region (Tokyo, Yokohama). They also call 7-11 “sebuire” (“sebun irebun” in Kanto), and refer to Universal Studios Japan as “yuniba” (“USJ” in Kanto).

Also, for reasons unknown, Osakans have a habit of calling sweets (“ame” in standard Japanese) “ame-chan,” with the diminutive suffix “chan” at the end. It’s also not unusual for older Osakan women to cheerfully offer candy to total strangers. This is actually considered one of the most famous examples of Osakan hospitality and humor, so if you’re ever visiting, you might be lucky enough to be offered some “ame-chan” by a passing stranger!

Prefectural Differences in the Kansai Dialect

The Kansai region is huge, being composed of six prefectures: Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, Nara, and Wakayama. It’s no surprise that the Kansai dialect differs somewhat depending on the location within the region. For example, “to not come” (“konai” in standard Japanese) would be “koohen” in the Kobe dialect, “keehen” in the Osaka dialect, or “kiihin” in the Kyoto dialect. There are sometimes even differences within the same prefecture, and asking someone from western Japan how to say something in Kansai-ben will get you vastly different answers. Once you get good enough, you may even be able to tell exactly where in Kansai they’re from just through accent alone!

Kansai Dialect Quiz! Guess the Meaning of These Kansai-ben Words and Phrases!

Q1: What Does “Iketara Iku Wa” (If I Could Go, I Would) Mean?

A) “I will go if I have the time.”

B) “I want to go but I’m not sure I can make it.”

C) “I won’t go.”

≫ Click here for the answer! ≪

Answer：C) “I won’t go.”

 

 

Q2: Who Does “Jibun” (Oneself) Refer To?

A) Me, obviously.

B) The person in front of me.

C) My family.

≫ Click here for the answer! ≪

Answer: B) The person in front of me, although mainly in informal situations.

 

Q3: What Does “Shutto Shiteru” Mean?

A) Swift.

B) Cool, Attractive.

C) Thin.

≫ Click here for the answer! ≪

Answer: B) Cool, Attractive

 

Q4: What Does “Agaru” (To Rise) Mean in the Kyoto Dialect?

A) To go on land.

B) To go up north.

C) To go left.

≫ Click here for the answer! ≪

Answer: B) To go up north.

Useful Tips to Get Along With Kansai People

Everyone Talks About Money All the Time!

In Kansai culture, it’s perfectly normal to keep asking about the price of something. Expect to hear “kore nanbo?” (How much is it? How much was it?) a lot over there. This whole attitude towards money may be a holdover from the days when the Kansai region was the commercial center of Japan. That’s also why a common exchange of greetings in Kansai goes something like this:

-    “Mokarimakka?” (Are you making money?)

-    “Bochi-bochi dennaa” (I’m doing alright)

You Can Use “Aho” But Not “Baka”

Kansai people love using the word “aho,” meaning “stupid” - but never in a mean way. If they say “ahochau?” (Are you stupid?), it’s often friendly and fun, so don’t get upset! Technically, “aho” and “baka” mean the same thing, however the latter is mainly used by Kansai people when they are angry, so it’s best to avoid it lest you start a fight. In contrast, the word “baka” doesn’t have nearly as much power in the Kanto region, where it’s used casually and often in jest.

Hedging Your Bets With “Shiran Kedo”

In Kansai, after expressing an opinion, many people follow it up with “shiran kedo.” This is the Japanese equivalent of “I don’t know, though.” It doesn’t mean you take no responsibility for what you said, but rather you acknowledge that, even though you’re sure of yourself, you might still be wrong, and if you are, you’re sorry. It’s a common expression in Kansai used almost unconsciously as a sort of “get out of trouble” phrase. Use it when you’re not 100% sure of something or want to break the tension.

Deepen Your Travels With Local Dialects

While traveling Kansai, make sure to use phrases like “ookini” after asking someone for directions and “kore nanbo?” when inquiring about the price. Kansai people are known for their friendly nature and sense of humor, and if they hear their dialect coming from you, they’ll likely perk right up and praise your mastery of their beloved way of speaking!

Top image: Vladimir Zhoga / Shutterstock.com