Imperative

Grammar points

V (stem)

The standard verb stem? form V? (stem)なさい can become just V (stem) in Kansai-ben. While this is a strong imperative or command, it can also be used as a suggestion on occasion.

かいな

The standard Japanese sentence ending か(な), used in questions and strong negatives, may become かい(な) in Kansai-ben. かいな is also used as in back-channel? communication (aizuchi) and imperatives.

Vな

Like standard Japanese, Vな is also used in Kansai-ben for strong prohibition. However, instead of the dictionary form? as in standard Japanese, the stem? form is used.

Vなあかん／Vんとあかん／Vんならん

The standard Japanese expressions for obligation and necessity (see the table below) mostly become Vなあかん in Kansai-ben. However, there are two exceptions that need to be mentioned.The first excepti...

Example conversations

大家さんと / With the Landlord

Atsushi leaves his apartment for work in the morning and meets his landlord cleaning out front.

Characters: Mori Atsushi, The Landlord

歓迎会で / At the Welcome Party

The new man at the company, Mori, is at his welcome party. He is chatting with his boss and new coworker, Kimura.

Characters: Mori Atsushi, The Boss, Kimura

街で / In the City

Junko runs into a coworker, Noriko, while on her way to a belly dance lesson...

Characters: Junko, Noriko

カラオケで / At Karaoke

Mori, and his coworkers Kimura and Sakagami, go to karaoke on the way home from work...

Characters: Mori Atsushi, Kimura, Sakagami

電車で / On a Train

Atsushi is on a train and gives up his seat to an old man...

Characters: Mori Atsushi, The Old Man

同じアパートの住人と / With a Neighbor

A neighbor complains to Atsushi.

Characters: Mori Atsushi, The Neighbor

会社で / At a Company

Mori has a presentation, but isn't feeling well. His coworker notices that he's pushing himself too hard and probably shouldn't be at work...

Characters: Mori Atsushi, Kishimoto, Sugimoto Natsuko, Oshima

会社の昼休み / During Lunch

Junko is chatting with her coworkers, Noriko and Natsuko, during lunch.

Characters: Junko, Noriko, Sugimoto Natsuko

居酒屋で / At an Izakaya

Junko and Noriko are drinking and chatting at an izakaya after work.

Characters: Junko, Noriko

お好み焼き屋で / At an Okonomiyaki Restaurant

Atsushi brings his friend to his usual okonomiyaki (a style of savory pancake) restaurant.

Characters: Mori Atsushi, The Friend, The Owner