The Japanese language, in addition to to Standard Japanese (Hyōjungo, 標準語), which most closely resembles Tokyo speech, has dozens of regional dialects. The Japanese word hougen (方言) means "dialect" in technical or non-casual speech. In casual speech, hougen means items or features of a dialect, and the suffix -ben (-弁) means "dialect". Both terms are frequently used to discuss regional linguistic variations. The Japanese language is a spoken and written language used mainly in Japan. ... The modern skyline of Tokyo is highly decentralized. ...

In Japanese, as in other languages, the decision to call one way of speaking a dialect and another a language is sometimes a difficult one. While linguists generally consider mutual intelligibilty to be the best test, even this has its problems. Also, politics, history, religion, regional rivalries, and other cultural factors can cloud the picture. In Japan, for example, the historical rivalry between the Kansai area, once the major seat of political power, and Tokyo can be seen in Kansai residents' attitudes toward what constitutes "standard" Japanese. Residents of Osaka are more likely to consider a more neutral composite such as Hokkaidō-ben to be representative of standard Japanese, rather than speech heard in Tokyo [1]. The Kansai region (関西) of Japan, also known as the Kinki region (近畿地方; Kinki-chihō), lies in the middle of Japans main island, Honshu. ... The modern skyline of Tokyo is highly decentralized. ... The Kansai region (関西) of Japan, also known as the Kinki region (近畿地方; Kinki-chihō), lies in the middle of Japans main island, Honshu. ... Osaka Castle, Ōsaka-jō Umeda district of Osaka Location in Japan Osaka City  listen? (大阪市; Ōsaka-shi) is the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ... The Japanese language, in addition to to Standard Japanese (Hyōjungo, 標準語), which most closely resembles Tokyo speech, has dozens of regional dialects. ... The modern skyline of Tokyo is highly decentralized. ...

Eastern Japanese

Hokkaidō

The residents of Hokkaido Prefecture are (relatively) recent arrivals from all parts of Japan, and this combination of influences has resulted in a set of regionalisms sometimes called Hokkaido-ben. Hokkaido-ben appears to have been influenced most significantly by Tohoku-ben, not surprising due to Hokkaido's geographic proximity to northeastern Honshu. Characteristics of Hokkaido-ben include speech that contains less gender-specific diferences, a rich vocabulary of regionalisms, and alternatives to "desu". There is a tendency toward rapid, abbreviated speech patterns, as is not uncommon in other rural areas of Japan. Overall, Hokkaido-ben is not dramatically different from what is called standard Japanese. Most native speakers of Hokkaido-ben can easily switch to standard Japanese when the situation calls for it. However, Hokkaido-ben is different enough that the prepared ear has a advantage in understanding it. Hokkaido   listen? (北海道 Hokkaidō, literal meaning: North Sea Route, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, is the second largest island of Japan. ... Hokkaido   listen? (北海道 Hokkaidō, literal meaning: North Sea Route, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, is the second largest island of Japan. ...

Here are some examples of words and phrases common in Hokkaido that are less common in standard Japanese:

• -be or -bee as volitional suffix (common to Tohoku-ben)
  • dabe — isn't it (desho)
• sa - often used instead of ne (final particle soliciting confirmation or agreement)
  • dabe sa -- (roughly) indeed, isn't it? (desho ne)
• o-ban desu — good evening (common to Tohoku-ben)
• shibareru — freezing cold weather, hard freeze
• namara — very
• kowai — I am tired.
• (gomi o) nageru — discard (trash) literally, "to throw" trash
• waya — dreadful
• menkoi — cute
• futtsuku - sticking to, adhering to
• tekkurikaeru - stumble and fall (skiing)
• bakuru - swap, trade
• hankakusai — fool
• zangi — fried chicken nuggets
• dosanko — Hokkaido native, 3 or more generations

Tōhoku

Tohoku-ben is spoken in Tohoku, the northeastern region of Honshu. Toward the northern part of Honshu, Tohoku-ben can differ so dramatically from standard Japanese that it is rendered with subtitles. It is considered by some to be a slow and "clumsy" dialect with connotations of dawdling or idleness. Southern US and US African-American dialects have been rendered into Tohoku-ben to capture this "nuance". Tohoku region, Japan Cast-iron teapots like this one sit atop stoves during the long winters in Tohoku. ... This article is about a region of Japan. ... todo mal de [ [ Shikoku ] ] a través del [ [ mar interior ] ], y noreste de [ [ Kyushu ] ] a través del [ [ estrecho de Kanmon ] ]. Es la séptima isla más grande, y la segunda isla populosa en el mundo después de [ [ Java (isla)|Java ] ] (véase [ [ lista de las islas de la población ] ]). < style=float del div... todo mal de [ [ Shikoku ] ] a través del [ [ mar interior ] ], y noreste de [ [ Kyushu ] ] a través del [ [ estrecho de Kanmon ] ]. Es la séptima isla más grande, y la segunda isla populosa en el mundo después de [ [ Java (isla)|Java ] ] (véase [ [ lista de las islas de la población ] ]). < style=float del div... This article is about a region of Japan. ... This article is about a region of Japan. ...

A notable linguistic feature of Tohoku-ben is its neutralization of the high vowels /i/ and /u/, so that the words Sushi, "susu" (ash), and "shishi" (lion) are rendered homophonous, where they would've been distinct in other dialects. It is for this reason that Tokoku-ben is somewhat pejoratively refered to as "zuzu-ben". Broadly conceived, linguistics is the study of human language, and a linguist is someone who engages in this study. ... Sushi variations with Kanji names behind. ...

In addition, all unvoiced stops become voiced intervocalically, rendering the pronunciation of the word "kato" (trained rabbit) as [kado]. However, unlike the high vowel neutralization, this does not result in new homophones, as all voiced stops are pre-nasalized, meaning that the word "kado" (corner) is roughly pronounced [kando]. Phoneticians define phonation as use of the laryngeal system to generate an audible source of acoustic energy, i. ... Phoneticians define phonation as use of the laryngeal system to generate an audible source of acoustic energy, i. ... In phonetics, nasalization refers to a sound that is produced with a lowered velum so air escapes partially or wholly through the nose during the production of the sound. ...

• Tsugaru
• Shimokita
• Nambu
• Sendai
• Akita
• Yamagata
• Echigo
• Hokkaido-ben may be considered a mild form of Tohoku-ben with borrowed words from other regions of Japan.

Akita Prefecture (秋田県; Akita-ken) is located in the Tohoku region of northern Japan. ... Yamagata Prefecture (山形県; Yamagata-ken) is located in the Tohoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Hokkaido   listen? (北海道 Hokkaidō, literal meaning: North Sea Route, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, is the second largest island of Japan. ... This article is about a region of Japan. ...

Kantō

• East Kantō
• West Kantō
• Tōkyō The speech of modern Tokyo residents is generally indistinguishable from what is considered modern standard Japanese, although some linguists maintain that in modern-day Tokyo there still exist Tokyo dialects with subtle differences from standard Japanese. One such example is Edogawa-ben is the fast-fading dialect of old families from Eastern Tokyo, around the Edogawa river is primarily known for the inability to pronounce or distinguish some phonemes which are considered wholly distinct in all other Japanese dialects. Though it also includes a few distinctive words, today it is largely indistinguishable from the standard speech of Tokyo other than the phonemic difference.

Kanto region, Japan The Kanto region (関東地方 Kantō-chihō) is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island in Japan. ... Tokyo (東京; Tōkyō, lit. ... The modern skyline of Tokyo is highly decentralized. ...

Tōkai-Tōsan

Nagano-Yamanashi-Shizuoka

• Shizuoka
• Enshū

Nagano Prefecture (長野県; Nagano-ken) is located on Honshu island, Japan. ... Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県 Yamanashi-ken) is located in the Chubu region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Shizuoka Prefecture (静岡県; Shizuoka-ken) is located in the Chubu region on Honshu island, Japan. ...

Gifu-Aichi

• Mino
• Hida

Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県 Gifu-ken), is located in the Chubu region of central Japan. ... Aichi Prefecture (愛知県 Aichi-ken) is located in the Chubu region of Japan. ...

Nagoya

Nagoya-ben is a dialect spoken in and around the city of Nagoya. It is similar to Kansai-ben in intonation, but to Tokyo-ben in accent. Instead of "shitteru?" Nagoya residents will say "shitttoru?" They attach unique suffixes to the end of sentences: "-gaya" when surprised, "-te" for emphasis, "-ni" to show off one's knowledge, and "-dekan" for disappointment. Some Nagoya words: "ketta" for "jitensha", "tsukue o tsuru" to 'move a desk', "dera-" or "dora-" for "sugoi" or "tottemo". A Tokyo resident: "Sou ni kimatteru janai" Nagoya resident: "Sou ni kimattoru gaya." "Gan" is not typical Nagoya-ben. It is rather slang used by the younger Nagoya residents. Nagoya Castle in June of 2004. ... Nagoya Castle in June of 2004. ...

Mikawa

Mikawa-ben is spoken in the east half of Aichi prefecture while Nagoya-ben is in the west half. The two dialects are very similar for people from other areas of Japan. But Mikawa and Nagoya people claim that the dialects are completely different. Mikawa people also claim that Mikawa-ben is the basis of Tokyo Japanese because it was made up in Edo period by samurai from this erea. Aichi Prefecture (愛知県 Aichi-ken) is located in the Chubu region of Japan. ... History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Edo period (江戸時代) is a division of Japanese... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ...

Hachijō Island

Western Japanese

Hokuriku

• Kaga
• Noto
• Sado Island

Hokuriku region (北陸地方, literally North Land) is the region along the Sea of Japan within the Chubu region, the central region of Honshu, the main island of Japan. ... Sado Island (佐渡ヶ島 Sadogashima) is an island off the coast of Niigata in the Chubu region of Japan. ...

Toyama

Toyama-ben is spoken in Toyama prefecture. Instead of the standard, shitte imasuka? or colloquial shitteru? for "Do you know?" Toyama-ben speakers will say, shittorukke? Other regional distinctions include words like kitokito for fresh and delicious. Toyama Prefecture (富山県; Toyama-ken) is located in the Chubu region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Toyama (富山市; -shi) is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. ...

Fukui

Fukui-ben is the dialect of Fukui prefecture. Speakers of Fukui-ben tend to talk in an up-and-down, sing-songy manner. It is considered a relatively rural dialect. Fukui Prefecture (福井県 Fukui-ken) is located in the Chubu region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Fukui Prefecture (福井県 Fukui-ken) is located in the Chubu region on Honshu island, Japan. ...

Examples of Fukui-ben include:

• hoya hoya, meaning hai (yes) or so desu yo (that is true)
• mmmmm-do, instead of ē-to (let's see, or well)
• tsuru tsuru, meaning "very," or "a lot" (as in, "tsuru tsuru ippai," or this glass is very full, almost overflowing)
• jami jami describes poor reception on a TV. The usual term is suna arashi "sandstorm."

Kinki (Kansai)

See main article: Kansai-ben The most well-known dialect outside of Tokyo, Kansai-ben (関西弁, ben dialect), also known as Osaka-ben, is a dialect spoken in the Kansai region of Japan, and most notably in the city of Osaka. It is characterized as being both more melodic and more "harsh" by speakers of the standard language. The Kansai region (関西) of Japan, also known as the Kinki region (近畿地方; Kinki-chihō), lies in the middle of Japans main island, Honshu. ... Kansai-ben (Japanese: 関西弁, -ben dialect) is a distinct group of related Japanese dialects found in the Kansai region of Japan. ... A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος) is a variety of a language used by people from a particular geographic area. ... The Kansai region (関西) of Japan, also known as the Kinki region (近畿地方; Kinki-chihō), lies in the middle of Japans main island, Honshu. ... Osaka Castle, Ōsaka-jō Umeda district of Osaka Location in Japan Osaka City  listen? (大阪市; Ōsaka-shi) is the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ...

Technically Kansai-ben is not a single dialect, but a group of related dialects of the region. Each major city represents a particular dialect with thousands of years of history. Thus there are specific dialects such as Kyōto-ben, Kobe-ben, Nara-ben, Wakayama-ben, etc. However, since Osaka is the largest city of the region, and since its speakers have gained the most media exposure in the last century, non-Kansai-ben Japanese speakers may associate the dialect of Osaka with the entire Kansai region. This may grate on the nerves of a few speakers of non-Osakan Kansai dialects, but no particular effort is underway to correct the misassumption.

Since Kansai-ben is the most common atypical dialect of Japanese, it has become a favorite with Japanese authors, manga and anime artists, and the like as the choice for representing a somewhat "different" character from the norm. Most English translations of anime, when attempting to represent Kansai-ben speakers, often use as a substitute, either voice actors with American Southern accents, or occasionally Brooklyn accents. Neither is a particularly exact substitute, but the cross-language semantic differences are difficult to capture. Rurouni Kenshin manga, volume 1 (English version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics; outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime (アニメ) is Japanese animation, sometimes referred to in the Western world by the portmanteau Japanimation. ... It has been suggested that Seiyu be merged into this article or section. ... Southern American English is a dialect of the English language spoken throughout the Southern region of the United States, from central Kentucky and northern Virginia to the Gulf Coast and from the Atlantic coast to eastern Texas. ... The Brooklyn Bridge in 1890, seven years after its opening Kings County in New York State Brooklyn is the most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. ...

Kansai-ben is strongly associated with Manzai and comedy in general. Some believe this is because Yoshimoto Kogyo, one of the country's main comedy television production companies, is based in Osaka, and thus Kansai comedians are better promoted. In Azumanga Daioh, Ayumu Kasuga is called "Osaka" as a joke as she is not a typical quick witted Kansai-ben speaker. Manzai (漫才) is a style of stand-up comedy in Japan, where two performers—a straight man (tsukkomi) and a funny man (boke)—trade jokes at great speed. ... Yoshimoto Kogyo is a major Japanese entertainment conglomerate, based in Osaka. ... Azumanga Daioh: The Animation logo. ...

Many common words in Kansai-ben are formed by contraction of Standard Japanese words. Two of the more prominent examples are chigau "to be different, wrong" which is contracted to form chau, and omoshiroi "interesting, funny" which contracts to omoroi. These contractions follow the similar inflection rules as their standard forms, so that chau is politely said chaimasu in the same way as chigau is inflected to chigaimasu.

In other cases, Kansai-ben uses different words entirely. The verb hokasu corresponds to Standard Japanese suteru "to throw away", and metcha corresponds to the Standard totemo "very".

Some Japanese words gain entirely new meaning when used in Kansai-ben. Baka, which is used as "idiot" in most regions, becomes "complete fool" and a stronger insult than aho. Most Kansai-ben speakers cannot stand being called baka but don't mind being called aho.

Common phrases famous as Kansai dialect include:

• akan（あかん） — a mild expletive, also used in place of Standard dame
• aho（アホ） — idiot, fool; used affectionately
• baka（馬鹿/莫迦） — idiot; not used affectionately, stronger than aho
• doaho（ドアホ） — idiot; stronger than baka
• donkusai（どんくさい） — stupid, clumsy, inefficient, lazy; literally "stupid-smelling"
• honnara（ほんなら） — in that case, if that's true; also used to indicate leaving as with Standard de wa or ja
• tanomu（頼む） — please; contrast Standard tanomu "to help"
• ya（や） — copula, equivalent to Standard da
• yaru（やる） — to give; considered a vulgar form of "to give" or "to do" in Standard Japanese
• nā（なぁ） — sentence final particle, meaning varies depending on tone
• nan ya（なんや） — "what?" or "what's going on?"; also meaning "me?" or "did you call my name?"; approximately equivalent to Standard "nani?"
• nan ya nen（なんやねん） — "what are you doing?" or "what are you saying?"
• nande ya nen（なんでやねん） — "you gotta be kidding!"
• nen（ねん） — equivalent to Standard sentence final particle ne
• shindoi（しんどい） or shindo — tired, exhausted

The word expletive is currently used in three senses: syntactic expletives, expletive attributives, and bad language. The word expletive comes from the Latin verb explere, meaning to fill, via expletivus, filling out. It was introduced into English in the seventeenth century to refer to various kinds of padding -- the padding...

Banshū

• Ōmi

Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県 Shiga-ken) is part of the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. ...

Ise

• Shima

Ōsaka

Osaka-ben belongs to the kansai family of dialects. The terminology is confusing, as people often use Kansai-ben interchangably with Osaka-ben. Even those in the know may confuse true Osaka-ben with Kawachi-ben. Ōsaka Prefecture (大阪府 Ōsaka-fu) is part of the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. ...

Kyōto

Kyoto-ben is a very soft and melodic Kansai dialect variation. Where Kobe dialect would say -ton, Kyoto dialect uses -taharu or -teharu (e.g. nani shitaharu no?). The sentence endings -yasu and -dosu are also common in Kyoto. See Kansai-ben for more. Kyōto Prefecture (京都府; Kyōto-fu) is part of the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Kansai-ben (Japanese: 関西弁, -ben dialect) is a distinct group of related Japanese dialects found in the Kansai region of Japan. ...

Kobe

Kobe-ben is a variation on Kansai-ben, most notable for conjugating verbs with an ending -ton (nani shite iru? "What are you doing?" becomes nani shiton?) Port Tower at night Kobe (Japanese: 神戸市; kōbe-shi) is a city in Japan, located on the island of Honshu. ...

Chūgoku

• Hiroshima
• Okayama
• Yamaguchi

The Chugoku region (中国地方 ChÅ«goku-chihō) is located within the western region of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. ... Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県 Hiroshima-ken) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Okayama Prefecture (岡山県; Okayama-ken) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県 Yamaguchi-ken) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ...

Umpaku

Shikoku

• Tokushima
• Sanuki
• Iyo

Shikoku (四国, four provinces) is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan. ... Tokushima Prefecture (徳島県 Tokushima-ken) is located on Shikoku island, Japan. ... Kagawa Prefecture (香川県; Kagawa-ken) is located on Shikoku island, Japan. ... Ehime Prefecture (愛媛県; Ehime-ken) is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. ...

Kochi Prefecture

Tosa-ben is used in Kochi prefecture. Kōchi Prefecture (高知県 Kōchi-ken) is located on the south coast of Shikoku, Japan. ... Kochi is both a city in India and a city/prefecture in Japan. ...

Kyūshū

Kyushu region, Japan Kyushu (九州) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ...

Hōnichi

• Kitakyūshū
• Ōita
• Miyazaki

Ōita Prefecture (大分県; Ōita-ken) is located on Kyushu Island, Japan. ... Miyazaki Prefecture (Japanese: 宮崎県; Miyazaki-ken) is located on Kyushu Island, Japan. ...

Hichiku

• Munakata
• Chikugo
• Chikuho
• Saga
• Nagasaki
• Kumamoto

This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Iizuka (飯塚市; -shi) is a city located at the confluence of the Honami and Onga rivers in central Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. ... Saga Prefecture (佐賀県; Saga-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. ... Nagasaki Prefecture (長崎県; Nagasaki-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. ... Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県; Kumamoto-ken) is located on Kyushu Island, Japan. ...

Hakata

Hakata-ben is the dialect of Fukuoka. Throughout Japan, Hakata-ben is famous, amongst many other idiosyncrasies, for its use of -to? as a question, e.g., "What are you doing?", realized in Standard Japanese as nani o shite iru no?, is nanba shiyotto? in Hakata. Hakata (博多区; -ku) is a ward in Fukuoka, Japan with a population of 176,585. ... Masanobu Fukuoka, author of The One Straw Revolution, is the pioneer of No Till grain growing (see also permaculture) Fukuoka is also the name of two towns in Japan, Fukuoka, Toyama (in Toyama Prefecture) and Fukuoka, Gifu (in Gifu Prefecture) View of downtown Fukuoka as seen from an observation deck...

Examples of Hakata-ben include:

• asoban instead of asobou; "let's have fun"
• batten instead of demo, kedo "but"
• da ken instead of da kara "therefore"
• yokarōmon instead of ii deshō "good, don't you think?"
• bari instead of totemo "very"
• shitōtchan instead of shiterunda "I'm doing it"
• ~shitōkiyo instead of shite kinasai "please do ~; used with children"
• yokka yokka instead of sō desu ne "yeah; is that so?"

Most other dialects in Kyushu share much in common with Hakata-ben, but the dialect of Kagoshima is strikingly different from other Kyushu dialects. Kyushu region, Japan Kyushu (九州) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... Kagoshima (鹿児島市; -shi) the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwest tip of the Kyushu island of Japan. ...

Satsugū

Kagoshima

Satsuma-ben, the dialect of Kagoshima prefecture, is often called "unintelligible" because of distinct conjugations of words and significantly different vocabulary. As the furthest place from Kyoto, it is likely that divergences in dialect were accumulated in Satsuma making it sound strange. Kagoshima (鹿児島市; -shi) the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwest tip of the Kyushu island of Japan. ... Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県 Kagoshima-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. ...

Okinawa

In recent years, the majority of specialists working on the languages spoken in Japan have come to agree that the speech of islands of Okinawa is not a dialect of the Japanese language; rather, it comprises a separate branch of the Japonic family. In this view, Japonic is split into two groups: Japanese, spoken throughout the Japanese islands, and Ryukyuan, found in the islands of Okinawa, south of Kyushu. Even so, there is great diversity within Japanese, and even greater within Ryukyuan, and many native speakers from one area of Japan can find the speech of another area virtually unintelligible. This article is about the prefecture. ... The Japonic languages are a language family believed to descend from a common language known as Proto-Japonic. ... The Ryukyuan languages are spoken in the Ryukyu islands and make up a subfamily of the Japonic family. ... Kyushu region, Japan Kyushu (九州) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ...

References:

• (1) maps of dialect and dialectic perception in Japan
• 関西弁講座 (in Japanese)
• A Kansai-ben - English reference