6. The adverbial form of adjectives ends in ku in Eastern Japanese, but usually lacks ku in Western Japanese. Instead of ku, both single and double vowel sounds are commonly heard.
| Eastern Japanese | Western Japanese | |
| become hot | atsuku naru | atsū naru, atsu naru |
| eat fast | hayaku taberu | hayō taberu, hayo taberu |
| understand well | yoku wakaru | yō wakaru |
| kindly, well | yoroshiku | yoroshū |
| busily and ... | isogashikute | isogashiite, isogashūte |
7. The imperative form of verbs in Western Japanese can differ from Eastern Japanese. Both forms, however, are commonly used in Western Japan.
| Eastern Japanese | Western Japanese | |
| eat fast! | hayaku fabero! | hayō tabē! hayo tabe! |
| wake up! | okiro! | okii ya! oki! |
| go! | ike! | ikii! iki! |
| read! | yome! | yomii! yomē! |
| study! | benkyō shiro! | benkyō shii! benkyō shii ya! |
2
STANDARD KANSAI LANGUAGE
While old people in Kyōto, Kōbe, Nagoya, Ōsaka, Okayama, and Hiroshima speak noticeably distinct strains of Western Japanese, there seems to be a trend toward a new standard for the region. The basis for this standard is the speech of the Kyōto-Kōbe-Ōsaka region. Although differences exist from speaker to speaker and from locale to locale, in the degree to which the local dialect and Tōkyō expressions have been incorporated, most of what the younger generation says in Western Japan will match the Japanese in this chapter. In later chapters the traditional styles of Kyōto, Ōsaka, and Hiroshima speech, now mostly spoken by rural and older people, will be covered in depth.
HOW MUCH?
If you go to one of Kyōto’s many temple flea markets, such as the one at Kitano-Tenmangu on the 25th of each month, you’re bound to hear some tough bargaining. These markets are good for finding traditional wares and food, and great for hearing Western Japanese in action.
w: Kore nanbo ya?
e: Kore wa ikura desu ka?
How much is this?
w: Mittsu kōtara chotto makete kurehen ka?
e: Mittsu kattara chotto makete kuremasen ka?
If I buy three will you lower the price a little?
w/e: Hai, hassen en ni maketokō.
O.K. I’ll lower it to eight thousand yen.
w: A: Chotto maketoite ya.
B: Sunmahen, makarimahen nen.
e: A: Sukoshi waribiki dekimasen ka?
B: Gomen nasai, waribiki dekinain desu.
A: Can you reduce the price a little?
B: Sorry, I can’t give a discount.
w: Oterasan no nominoichi wa doko?
e: Otera no nominoichi wa doko?
Where’s the temple flea market?
People in Kansai affix san to certain words. They refer to temples as oterasan. Older people say arigatosan (thank you), ohayōsan (good morning), eraisan (big shot), and ansan (polite you).
w: Kore wa bottakuri yatta.
e: Kau kachi wa nakatta./Borareta.
This was a rip-off.
Bottakuru means to overcharge.
w: Kore wa honma ni horidashimon ya.
e: Kore wa honto ni horidashimono da.
This is a real bargain.
w: Machigainō ureru.
e: Machigainaku ureru.
You’ll have no problem selling these.
Nambo can also be substituted for other meanings of ikura.
w: Nanbo yattemo wakarahen wa!
e: Ikura yattemo wakaranai yo!
No matter how many times I try to do it, I still don’t understand!
w: Nanbo demo motte kite.
e: Ikura demo motte kite kudasai.
Bring as many as you feel like.
w: Nanbo nandemo aisu kuriimu gurai kōte kuretemo ēn chau?
e: Ikura nandemo aisu kuriimu gurai katte kuretemo iin ja nai?
Don’t you think that you could at least buy some ice cream for me?
w: Nanbo nandemo sore wa hidoi wa.
e: Ikura nandemo sore wa hidoi desu.
That’s absolutely horrible.
GREETINGS
If you walk into a little mom-and-pop shop around Kyōto, you’ll probably be greeted with oideyasu rather than the standard irasshai. And when you leave you will probably hear maido or ōkini rather than the standard arigatō gozaimasu.
w: Maido, ōkini!
e: Domo arigatō gozaimasu!
Thank you very much!
Maido literally means “every time,” but carries the nuance of “always at your service.” Ōkini means “thank you,” and sounds friendlier than arigatō gozaimasu.
w: Oideyasu!/Yō okoshi!/Okoshiyasu!
e: Irasshai!
Come in! Welcome!
w: Gomenyasu.
e: Gomen kudasai.
Anybody home?/Sorry to trouble you.
This is said, for example, when you are calling in the front door in hopes that somebody is in.
w: Hisashiburi ya ne.
e: Hisashiburi desu ne.
Long time no see.
w: Ē tenki ya ne.
e: Ii tenki desu ne.
Nice day, isn’t it.
The expressive particles na and ne can be used interchangeably. Na sounds a lot tougher than ne, and its use is frowned upon by delicate people. Be that as it may, both men and women use na all the time in Western japan, much more so than in Tōkyō.
w: Sunmahen./Sunmasen.
e: Sumimasen./Suimasen.
Excuse me.
Sunmahen is not considered to be as polite as sumimasen. It is very effective, however, when you need people out of the way in a hurry, like when you are trying to shove your way out of a packed train.
Os, Ya, and Oi are common informal greetings in both Western and Eastern Japanese. Os has a tough air of comradery. It is used among teammates and the like, although teenage girls also use it. Ya would be used, for example, when some people see their colleagues sitting at another table in a pub. Konban wa would sound too formal in such a situation. Oi would be used when you see a kid stealing your bike across the street.
w/e: Konnichiwa. /Konbanwa.
Good day./Good evening.
w: Ohayō./Ohayōsan dosu.
e: Ohayō gozaimasu.
Good morning.
w/e: Oyasumi./Oyasuminasai.
Good night.
HOW