![](Images/osakaben.gif)
Osaka Ben (A Japanese Dialect)
The following message was sent to me by a Japanese professor
who was answering a query from me about the Osaka dialect. Here
is his reply:
Peter,
Native Osaka people are likely to think
that what makes Osaka Japanese different from the Tokyo one is
its particular words. It is not always the case. Vocabulary difference
is much smaller than Osaka people think. Many or most of so called
particular Osaka words belong to what is called folk speech rather
than to the dialect. Those are words people use only in their
private life, but do not use in their, for example, public speech,
or when you talk to somebody whose social rank is higher than
theirs. In Tokyo, too, there are lots of this type of folk speech:
Atama or Ittosaisho meaning beginning of something;
Tappa meaning height of the human body, that is, how tall
you are. Yana Asatte meaning four days after today.
Suddenly I recalled some words: Kashiwa
which Tokyo people don't understand at all. Sanpatsuya
which Tokyo people understand but they don't use at all. Hyakkaten
(department store) which they don't use at all. They say DEPAATO
in stead. Returning to the main stream. What is the biggest difference
between Kansai Japanese and Tokyo or Eastern Japanese is the
accent of words: which syllable or syllables of a word are pronounced
in higher pitches than the rest. There is one more basic difference:
the comparative strength of vowels. In Osaka Japanese, vowels
are very strong, especially in the last syllable of a word. In
some words people here pronounce the last syllable very stressed
and very long. Me meaning eyes sounds to the Eastern people's
ear as Mee; Hato sounds to them like Hatooh
(pigeons).
Osaka people don't readily recognize
these differences. They like to think the difference is just
in the words. I don't know why.
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Osaka Dialect Vocabulary
The double consonants must be pronounced properly. The double
vowels indicate a lengthening of the vowel.
Ahookusa |
Idiotic thing |
Ahoo |
Stupid |
Akan |
No good |
Arahen |
Is not, not present |
Benkyoo suru |
To discount |
Bochi bochi |
So so, Fairly |
Bottakuri |
Rip off |
Chau |
No, wrong |
Choi |
A little |
Donai |
How are you? |
Donkusai |
Clumsy, stupid |
Dooshoomonai |
Hopeless |
Doshitan |
How (past tense) |
Dotsuku |
Hit, punch |
Eekakkoshii |
Pretentious |
Ee |
Yes |
Egui |
Disgusting |
Erai |
Very |
Gametsui |
Greedy |
Gera |
Person who
laughs a lot |
Goneru |
To whinge,
complain |
Gossosan |
Thank you for the food |
Gottsui |
Big, very |
Gyoosan |
Many |
Hagaii |
Frustrating |
Hayo |
Quickly, early |
Hokasu |
To throw away |
Homma |
Really |
Honja |
See you later |
Honnara |
If so then, in that case |
Ichibiri (ichibiru) |
Fool, clown |
Ikezu |
Cruel, nasty |
Ikkomo |
Not even a little |
Iko |
Let's go |
Irachi |
Grumpy person |
Irau |
To Touch |
Itchomae |
Full of oneself |
Jibun |
You |
Kakko |
Appearance |
Kamahen |
Don't mind |
Kanawan |
Can't prevail over something |
Kannin suru |
Excuse me |
Keehen |
Don't come |
Kettai |
Strange, interesting |
Koeru |
To put on weight |
Koeteru |
Overweight |
Kokeru |
To fall |
Koote (Koota) |
Purchase it, please (Bought) |
Kosobai |
Ticklish |
Kotcha |
Thing |
Maido |
Hello |
Makashi |
Leave it to someone |
Makeru |
To discount |
Massara |
Brand new |
Metcha/Mutcha |
Very |
Moukarimakka |
How's business? |
Mukatsuku |
Angry |
Naa |
Isn't it? |
Nanbo |
How Much? |
Nangi |
Difficult |
Nanmo |
Nothing |
Nanya |
Not certain but something |
Naosu |
Tidy up |
Nukasu |
To say |
Nukui |
Warm |
Obahan |
Old woman |
Ochokuru |
To make fun of |
Omoroi |
Interesting |
Ookini |
Thank you |
Oota |
Met |
Oru |
Is, exists |
Ossan |
Old man |
Otchan |
Old man |
Owaiso |
My bill please |
Pakuru |
To steal |
Sainara |
Goodbye |
Sara |
New |
Sarappin |
New product |
Seehen |
Don't do, Won't do |
Sen |
Don't |
Seyakara |
Therefore |
Seyakedo |
Though |
Seya |
That's right |
Shaanai |
That's life! |
Shii |
Do it |
Shindoi |
Tired |
Shitatte |
Do it for someone |
Shoomonai |
Boring, unimportant |
Sooya |
That's right |
Sooyattara |
If that's so |
Sukebe |
Lewd, dirty minded |
Sumahen/Suman |
Sorry |
Tanomu |
Please, I'm relying on you |
Tsubureru |
To break |
Uchi |
I |
Umai |
Tasty |
Uttoushi |
Dreary (as in weather) |
Yanke |
I'm telling you |
Yarashii |
Crude, disgusting |
Yooke / Yoosan |
Many |
Yosha |
Okay, yes |
Yuu |
To Speak |
Zukkoi |
Sneaky |
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