Takashi's Japanese Dictionary

A blog for learning Japanese that introduces Japanese slang words and Idioms!

  • Home
  • Posts ▾
    • Latest Posts
    • Featured Posts
    • Phrases by Topic
    • Slang
    • Idiom
    • Column
    • Grammar
    • Reading Comprehension
    • 英語に関する記事 (in Japanese)
  • Lesson Materials ▾
    • For Complete Beginners
    • For Intermediate/Advanced Learners
  • Tools ▾
    • Furigana Generator
    • Gairaigo/Wasei-Eigo Converter
  • What’s New
  • Social Media
  • About
You are here: Home / Featured Posts / 9 Essential Kansai Dialect (Kansai-ben) Words and Phrases

9 Essential Kansai Dialect (Kansai-ben) Words and Phrases

June 12, 2020

関西弁 (Kansai-ben, “Kansai dialect”) is the most common dialect in Japan apart from the Standard Japanese (標準語, ひょうじゅんご). This article explains some unique words and idioms in the Kansai dialect, which you probably won’t learn from a Japanese textbook!

For the essential grammar rules of the Kansai dialect, see Essential Grammar in Kansai Dialect (関西弁, Kansai-ben)

Table of Contents

  • あかん (akan)
  • ほんま (honma)
    • (i) real (na-adjective)
    • (ii) really? (short response)
  • ええ (ee)
    • Example
  • ちゃう (chau)
    • (i) ‘differ’, ‘not correct’ (verb)
    • Example
    • (ii) ‘not be …’ (sentence ending)
    • Example
    • Famous Enigmatic Conversation in 関西弁
  • なんでやねん (nandeyanen)
  • わい/ワイ (wai)
    • Example
  • 自分(じぶん, jibun)in the Kansai Dialect
    • Example
    • Original Usage
    • Unique Usage in the Kansai dialect
  • ~ 回生(~ かいせい, kaisei)
    • Example
  • 遠慮のかたまり(えんりょのかたまり, enryonokatamari)
  • See also
    • Grammar in Kansai Dialect
    • Seasonal photos of 奈良 (Nara), the south of the Kansai region.

あかん (akan)

あかん is one of the most common and important words in the Kansai dialect. Basically,  it means “bad” or “you shouldn’t/can’t …”, and it is a synonym of “駄目 (だめ)” in the standard Japanese. For instance, when you say to your parent that you want to skip school for no reason, she/he would answer “あかん”, meaning “You can’t”.

Refer to the previous post below for a more comprehensive explanation.

Meaning of あかん (akan), the Essential Kansai-Dialect Word

ほんま (honma)

ほんま is nearly equivalent to “本当 (ほんとう)” in the standard Japanese. It has two usages as follows:

(i) real (na-adjective)

1-1
その話、ほんまなん?
Is that story real?
1-2
ほんまに眠いわ
I’m really sleepy
1-3
ほんまの事を言うわ
I’ll tell you the real thing (truth).

* Although 本当/ほんま is categorised as “na-adjective”, it modifies a noun as “本当/ほんま+の”, not “本当/ほんま+な”.

(ii) really? (short response)

A: もう課題終わったで:
A: I’ve finished the assignment already.
B: ほんま(に)?
B: Really?

Similarly, “ほんまかいな” is a classic Kansai expression to use when you are surprised and doubt someone’s statement. It is often used by more than middle-aged men.

(e.g.)
A: 昨日(きのう)、梅田(うめだ)でビートたけし見(み)たで
I saw Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano) yesterday in Umeda.
B: ほんまかいな?
Wow, are you sure?

ええ (ee)

In the Kansai dialect, “ええ” is equivalent to “良(い)い” in the standard Japanese.

Example

もうええよ = もういいよ (That’s all good already/Don’t worry)
ええシャツやん =  いいシャツだね = (That’s a good shirt)
ええこと言うなぁ = いいこと言うね (You say such a good thing)

In particular, it is often used as “ええの?” meaning “Is that good?/Are you sure?” or “ええやん” meaning “(That) sounds/looks good”, where “やん” is a very common sentence-ending particle used for emphasis in the Kansai dialect.

ちゃう (chau)

ちゃう has two meanings as follows:

(i) ‘differ’, ‘not correct’ (verb)

This meaning is equivalent to that of “違う(ちがう)” in the standard Japanese.

Example

1. 全然ちゃうやん = 全然違うね
That’s not correct/totally different.

2. 何かちゃう=何か違う
Something is not quite right/is different 

(ii) ‘not be …’ (sentence ending)

This usage is equivalent to “じゃない/ではない” in the standard Japanese, and it is often used when you make a negative question e.g., Isn’t it …

Example

1. ええんちゃう?  = いいんじゃない?
Isn’t it good?

2. 欲(ほ)しかったの、これちゃう = 欲しかったの、これじゃない
What I wanted is not this.

Famous Enigmatic Conversation in 関西弁

Do you think you have mastered how to use ちゃう correctly? Then, let’s decipher the following conversation in the Kansai dialect:

A: あれ、ちゃうちゃうちゃう?
B: ちゃうちゃう、ちゃうちゃうちゃうやろ

Well, while this conversation is obviously made enigmatic deliberately, it does perfectly make sense for Kansai people (this is also a well-known joke among them). The translations into standard Japanese and English are as follows:

A:   あれ、チャウチャウ じゃない?
Isn’t that Chow Chow ( = a dog breed)?
B: 違う違う、チャウチャウ じゃないよ
Nah Nah (that’s not correct), it’s not Chow Chow.

In the first sentence, ちゃう means “じゃない” (not be …), and in the second sentence it means ” 違う’.

なんでやねん (nandeyanen)

なんでやねん (nandeyanen) is probably the most important phrase in the Kansai dialect, esp, in Osaka. It is usually used when you hear someone doing or saying something foolish (on purpose, or not), and you use this word to react to their silly remark/behaviour, i.e. ツッコミ (tsukkomi).

Learn the full explanations of なんでやねん at the following post:

なんでやねん (nandeyanen): Meaning, Usage and Examples

わい/ワイ (wai)

わい/ワイ is a traditional first-person pronoun in the Kansai dialect, and it evokes the image of old blokes in the Kansai area. However, recently young people use this term on the Internet to sound casual and playful. Surprisingly, some young girls allegedly started to use it in real life to refer to themselves (inside and outside the Kansai area), which would sound very strange to real Kansai people because of its atypical usage.

* In fact, there are about 10 different words in Japanese that all mean “私わたし (I)”. See the following post to learn their subtle differences and usages!

Boku, Ore, Watashi, Atashi: 15 Japanese Person Pronouns

Example

わいも行(い)きたい!
I wanna go too!

ワイのカバンどこにあるか知(し)らん?
Do you know where my bag is?

自分(じぶん, jibun)in the Kansai Dialect

Originally, 自分 (じぶん) refers to 1st person, or ‘oneself’ in standard Japanese. In the Kansai area, it is also used to refer to 2nd person; however, note that this usage can sound a bit too friendly or rude and should avoid using it in a formal situation e.g., when talking to your boss.

Example

Original Usage

自分のノートパソコン: My laptop
それ、自分でやったの?:  Did you do it by yourself

Unique Usage in the Kansai dialect

これ、自分のやろ? This is yours, right?
自分、何してんの? What are you doing?

~ 回生(~ かいせい, kaisei)

To describe year at school,  “年 (ねん)” or “年生(ねんせい)” are always used in standard Japanese. However,  people in Kansai use these terms only before high school, and once they enter university, they start to use “回(かい)” or “回生(かいせい)” instead.

Example

一年生 (いちねんせい) : 1st-year at school
一回生 (いっかいせい) : 1st-year student at university
四回生 (よんかいせい) : 4th-year student at university
自分、いま何回(なんかい)なん? : Which year at university are you in now?

遠慮のかたまり(えんりょのかたまり, enryonokatamari)

遠慮のかたまり (えんりょのかたまり) is a unique word in the Kansai dialect that means “a last piece of food on a shared plate”. It indicates the last portion on a plate that people are hesitant to reach for ⁠— e.g., a last slice of pizza on a plate—, because they don’t want to be viewed as an ignorant glutton.

See also

Grammar in Kansai Dialect

Essential Grammar in Kansai Dialect (関西弁, Kansai ben)

Seasonal photos of 奈良 (Nara), the south of the Kansai region.

Seasonal Photos of Nara: Child Dear, Cherry Blossom and Autumn Leave

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Kansai Dialect, List

Related Posts

  • 月とスッポン (tsuki to suppon): “The Moon and Soft-Shell Turtle”

  • Japanese Idiom はしごを外す Meaning “Removing The Ladder”

  • Japanese Words and Onomatopoeias about Laugh (Warai)

    Japanese Words and Onomatopoeias about Laugh (Warai)

  • Complicated Meanings of 開き直る (hiraki naoru) in Japanese

  • “Nominication”: Japanese (Old) Drinking Culture After Work

    “Nominication”: Japanese (Old) Drinking Culture After Work

Featured Posts:

  • Japanese Conversation Practice to Master 気-related Idioms
  • “Gakkī Loss”: Meaning of ロス (“Loss”) in Japanese
  • 30+ Japanese Words for “Very”: Synonyms of とても (totemo)
  • 40 Ways of Saying "Many" in Japanese (Ooi, Ippai, Takusan, and More...)
  • 8 Funny and Cute Japanese Cat Idioms
  • Success Story of Ichiro Suzuki: What He Means to Japanese Baseball Fans

Popular Posts:

  • “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Could Mean “I love You” in Japanese
  • Meaning of “May Disease” (五月病, gogatsu byou) in Japanese
  • Meaning of 卍 (manji) and マジ卍 (Maji manji) in Japanese
  • 50 Japanese Words and Idioms about Love & Relationship
  • なんでやねん (nandeyanen): Meaning and Usage
  • Meaning and Difference of ガチ (gachi) and マジ (maji) in Japanese
  • 4 Meanings of ノリ (Nori) in Japanese Slang
  • Meaning of Kenjataimu (賢者タイム, Kenja Time) in Japanese Slang
  • Meaning of “It will snow/rain a lot tomorrow” in Japanese (+ Other Languages)
  • コミュ障 (komyushou) Meaning ‘Suck at Communication’ in Japanese
  • 5 Meanings of ペラペラ (pera pera) in Japanese
  • Japanese Slang 帰宅部 (kitaku bu) Meaning ‘Go-Home Club’
  • 40 Ways of Saying “Many” in Japanese (Ooi, Ippai, Takusan, and More…)
  • Meaning of だけに (dake ni) and Its Usage to Make a Pun in Japanese
  • Japanese Wasei-Eigo List (“Japlish”) and Their Meanings
  • Boku, Ore, Watashi, Atashi: 15 Japanese Person Pronouns
  • Meaning of ペーパードライバー (‘Paper Driver’) in Japlish (Japanese English)
  • 20 Japanese Words and Onomatopoeia About Rain (雨, ame)
  • 炎上 (enjou) Meaning “Come Under Fire” in Japanese
  • 8 Funny and Cute Japanese Cat Idioms
  • 闇鍋 (yaminabe): Meaning “Dark Hot Pot” with Random Ingredients
  • Essential Grammar in Kansai Dialect (関西弁, Kansai ben)
  • Meaning of Kaedama, Menkata and Barikata of Ramen Noodles
  • Ageru, Kureru, and Morau: Meaning, Grammar and Difference
  • Meaning of 相合傘 (ai ai gasa): Lovely Dream of Kids in Japan
  • とにかく (Tonikaku) Means More Than “Anyway”
  • Meaning of “Three-Day Monk” (三日坊主, mikka bouzu) in Japanese
  • Funny Japanese Gaming Slang Terms
  • 凸凹, 〆, 卍: Meaning of Weird and Funny Looking Kanji
  • ありがた迷惑 (arigata meiwaku) Meaning “Unwelcome Favour” in Japanese

Search on Takashionary
(e.g. 'food', 'cat', 'idiom')

If you like this page, follow me on social media!

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Comments

  1. Christi says

    February 11, 2021 at 9:44 pm

    Thank you very much!
    I’m especially interested in the pronouns in Kansai. I remember reading that in Kansai it’s not unusual for men to use a pronoun that is considered feminine in Kantō. I’m not sure what it was. perhaps “uci”?

    Reply
    • Takashi says

      February 12, 2021 at 9:33 pm

      Hi Christi, thanks for your comment! “うち (uchi)” is more often used in Kansai, but sounds feminine in both Kansai and Kantō! A masculine pronoun that is often associated with the Kansai-ben is “ワイ (wai)”, but it sounds old-fashioned and is often used by old blokes!

      Reply
  2. Rose says

    January 12, 2022 at 8:56 am

    Very informative 🙂 thank ylu sl much! いっぱい 習ったわ

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ブログランキング・にほんブログ村へPVアクセスランキング にほんブログ村

Follow me!

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search on Takashionary
(e.g. 'food', 'cat', 'idiom')

Trending Posts

  • “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Could Mean “I love You” in Japanese
  • Meaning of “May Disease” (五月病, gogatsu byou) in Japanese
  • Meaning of 卍 (manji) and マジ卍 (Maji manji) in Japanese
  • Meaning of Kenjataimu (賢者タイム, Kenja Time) in Japanese Slang
  • なんでやねん (nandeyanen): Meaning and Usage
  • 40 Ways of Saying “Many” in Japanese (Ooi, Ippai, Takusan, and More…)
  • 4 Meanings of ノリ (Nori) in Japanese Slang
  • Boku, Ore, Watashi, Atashi: 15 Japanese Person Pronouns
  • コミュ障 (komyushou) Meaning ‘Suck at Communication’ in Japanese
  • Meaning and Difference of ガチ (gachi) and マジ (maji) in Japanese
  • Japanese Slang 帰宅部 (kitaku bu) Meaning ‘Go-Home Club’
  • 5 Meanings of ペラペラ (pera pera) in Japanese
  • 50 Japanese Words and Idioms about Love & Relationship
  • 20 Japanese Words and Onomatopoeia About Rain (雨, ame)
  • Japanese Wasei-Eigo List (“Japlish”) and Their Meanings
  • “I can’t say even ぐう”: A Japanese Idiom For Touché Moments
  • Essential Grammar in Kansai Dialect (関西弁, Kansai ben)
  • Meaning of ペーパードライバー (‘Paper Driver’) in Japlish (Japanese English)
  • Meaning of “Three-Day Monk” (三日坊主, mikka bouzu) in Japanese
  • 8 Funny and Cute Japanese Cat Idioms
  • Meaning of 相合傘 (ai ai gasa): Lovely Dream of Kids in Japan
  • Ashita, Asatte, Shiasatte, Yanoasatte: 13 Japanese Words Describing Dates
  • 凸凹, 〆, 卍: Meaning of Weird and Funny Looking Kanji
  • Meaning of “It will snow/rain a lot tomorrow” in Japanese (+ Other Languages)
  • Meaning of Japanese Bracketed Expressions: (笑), (棒), (白目) and More
  • 闇鍋 (yaminabe): Meaning “Dark Hot Pot” with Random Ingredients
  • Meaning of ぼっち (Bocchi) and クリぼっち (Kuri Bocchi) in Japanese Slang
  • 30+ Japanese Words for “Very”: Synonyms of とても (totemo)
  • 炎上 (enjou) Meaning “Come Under Fire” in Japanese
  • Meaning of 本末転倒 (honmatsu tentou) in Japanese

Popular Posts

  • “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Could Mean “I love You” in Japanese
  • 30+ Essential Japanese Words and Idioms to Describe Food
  • 9 Essential Kansai Dialect (Kansai-ben) Words and Phrases
  • 十八番 (ohako) Meaning “The Songs You Sing the Best”
  • Boku, Ore, Watashi, Atashi: 15 Japanese Person Pronouns
  • Meaning of Kaedama, Menkata and Barikata of Ramen Noodles
  • ありがた迷惑 (arigata meiwaku) Meaning “Unwelcome Favour” in Japanese
  • Meaning of Kenjataimu (賢者タイム, Kenja Time) in Japanese Slang
  • Japanese Idiom “Put on a Cat”, 猫をかぶる (neko wo kaburu)
  • Meaning and Difference of ガチ (gachi) and マジ (maji) in Japanese

Words by Theme

  • 30+ Essential Japanese Words and Idioms to Describe Food
  • 9 Essential Kansai Dialect (Kansai-ben) Words and Phrases
  • Boku, Ore, Watashi, Atashi: 15 Japanese Person Pronouns

Idiom

  • 十八番 (ohako) Meaning “The Songs You Sing the Best”
  • ありがた迷惑 (arigata meiwaku) Meaning “Unwelcome Favour” in Japanese
  • Japanese Idiom “Put on a Cat”, 猫をかぶる (neko wo kaburu)

Japlish

  • 深夜テンション (shinya tension) Meaning “Midnight High” in Japanese Slang
  • Japanese Wasei-Eigo List (“Japlish”) and Their Meanings
  • Meaning of ペーパードライバー (‘Paper Driver’) in Japlish (Japanese English)

Slang

  • Meaning of *活: 婚活 (Konkatsu), 就活/終活 (Shūkatsu) and 朝活 (Asakatsu)
  • 女たらし (onna tarashi) Meaning ‘Lady’s Man’ in Japanese
  • オワコン (Owakon) Meaning ‘Old-Fashioned’ in Japanese Slang

Column

  • “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Could Mean “I love You” in Japanese
  • Meaning of 遠慮 (enryo) and 空気を読む (kuuki wo yomu)
  • Success Story of Ichiro Suzuki: What He Means to Japanese Baseball Fans

Grammar

  • Essential Grammar in Kansai Dialect (関西弁, Kansai ben)
  • 全然おいしい: Meaning of Zenzen in Positive Sentences Without ない (Nai)
  • Ageru, Kureru, and Morau: Meaning, Grammar and Difference

日本語記事

  • 韻を踏むお茶目な英語表現、単語、フレーズ、イディオム30+
  • 頭に情景が浮かぶ面白い英語フレーズ、イディオム30+
  • ManyやA Lot Ofの類語、 言い換え英語表現50+の使い分け
  • 直訳すると変な英語表現、イディオム12
  • 「他界する」を意味するユニークな英語イディオム8選

Categories

Copyright © 2022 · All Rights Reserved