Question

Grammar points

Particles “か”and “け” feeling

In Kansai-ben, when the question particles か and け are added to the end of a sentence, whereas they are often dropped in casual speech in standard Japanese. It should be additionally noted that the...

ねん／てん／ん／のん／たん

In Kansai-ben, ねん, てん, ん, のん, and たん are used in queries, asking for reasons, and giving explanations.The standard sentence endings のだ and んだ may become ねん and てん in Kansai-ben. The main difference...

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.

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

魚屋で / At a Seafood Stall

Hanako is doing a little shopping at a seafood stall.

Characters: Hanako, The Fishmonger

道を聞く / Asking Directions

Atsushi asks directions on the street for the Takashimaya department store in Namba.

Characters: Mori Atsushi, The Passerby

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