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The Kyoto dialect or Kyoto-ben (京都弁) is a variant of the Kansai dialect, which is spoken all through the southeast area of Japan (together with Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe).
Though there are a number of similarities between the varied Kansai-ben, I can inform you from firsthand expertise that Kyoto-ben virtually appears like a distinct language altogether.
Even in the event you’re fluent in commonplace Japanese or 標準語 (ひょうじゅんご), you’ll discover that many phrases in Kyoto-ben don’t come up in your 標準語 dictionary, and verb endings don’t match any of the formal and casual Japanese you’ve been taught at school.
Nonetheless, Kyoto-ben is seen as essentially the most royal, well mannered and relaxed of all of the dialects within the Kansai area. Its nonchalant movement and simple cadence give a relaxed feeling that isn’t current in commonplace Japanese. The dialect displays the wealthy historical past and tradition of Kyoto, owing to its standing because the outdated capital of Japan and the robust presence of geiko (芸子 or げいこ), the Kansai equal of geisha, within the space.
And since Kyoto is without doubt one of the hottest vacationer locations in Japan, realizing its dialect will assist you to higher respect the place, its individuals and its tradition.
Contents
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1. Utilization and Conjugation of ～はる
Though utilized in different Kansai sub-dialects as properly, ～はる is used way more usually in Kyoto and in numerous methods.
In different components of Kansai, ～はる is used primarily by ladies, whereas in Kyoto, males use it as properly. (Even aged individuals use ～はる for his or her members of the family and animals!) Whereas different Kansai dialects deal with it as a type of 敬語 (けいご) or well mannered speech, Kyoto-ben makes use of ～はる so usually that it’s misplaced a lot of its formality within the space.
Additionally, Kyoto-ben conjugates ～はる a bit otherwise from different Kansai dialects. As a substitute of utilizing the previous te- type, the ta- type is usually used earlier than ～はる in Kyoto.
What are you consuming?
Commonplace Japanese: 何を食べているの？(なにをたべているの？)
Kyoto-ben: 何を食べたはるの？(なにをたべたはるの？)
Individuals from the countryside are relaxed.
Commonplace Japanese: 田舎の人達はのんびりしている。(いなかの ひとたちは のんびりしている。)
Kyoto-ben: 田舎の人達はのんびりしたはる。(いなかの ひとたちは のんびりしたはる。)
2. Including the い Sound in Adverse Irregular Verbs
In common Kansai–ben, unfavorable verbs are changed with ～へん. For instance, the phrase “I don’t perceive” or 分からない (わからない) turns into 分からへん (わからへん). That is additionally a staple of Kyoto-ben.
Nonetheless, in Kyoto, while you make the irregular verbs する and 来る (くる) unfavorable, as an alternative of turning into せえへん and けえへん, they flip into しいひん and 来いひん (きいひん).
At the moment, he didn’t reply.
Commonplace Japanese: あの時、彼は返事しなかった。(あのとき、かれは へんじ しなかった。)
Kyoto-ben: あの時、彼は返事しいひんかった。(あのとき、かれは へんじ しいひんかった。)
Mr. Yamada isn’t coming.
Commonplace Japanese: 山田さんが来ない。(やまださんがこない。)
Kyoto-ben: 山田さんが来いひん。(やまださんが きいひん。)
3. Including ～なぁ As a substitute of the ～ねん in Different Kansai Dialects
Within the Kansai space, ～ねん is a typical sentence ending particle with no explicit English equal. As a substitute of this, Kyoto–ben usually makes use of ～なぁ.
He’s an important man, isn’t he?
Commonplace Japanese: 彼は偉い人だね。(かれは えらい ひとだね。)
Kyoto-ben: 彼は偉い人やなぁ。(かれは えらい ひとやなぁ。)
4. Saying the ～う in Sure Particles
The mushy melodic cadence of Kyoto-ben is highlighted within the pronunciation of the う sound in ます or です.
As a substitute of the same old pronunciations of mahss and dess, the individuals of Kyoto softly pronounce the ultimate u sound. This can be a traditional attribute of Kyoto-ben.
5. Emphasis on Syllable Repetition and Onomatopoeia
Kyoto-ben, greater than the opposite Japanese dialects, depends closely on syllable repetition and onomatopoeia.
For instance, individuals from Kyoto are likely to repeat the identical phrase twice for emphasis as an alternative of utilizing phrases like とても or すごく, each of which roughly translate to “very” or “actually.”
It’s actually sizzling right now.
Commonplace Japanese: 今日はとても暑い。 (きょうは とてもあつい。)
Kyoto-ben: 今日は暑い暑い。 (きょうは あついあつい。)
6. Utilizing どす As a substitute of です
Whereas Kyoto-ben is utilized by individuals of all ages, there are some expressions that aren’t so frequent anymore however are nonetheless utilized by the aged. You’ll nonetheless hear them whereas residing or touring in Kyoto, they usually appear to precise a traditional type of Kyoto-ben that sounds elegant to Japanese audio system.
For instance, どす is how some older Kyoto residents say です. This conventional accent is highlighted by the geiko and maiko (舞妓 or まいこ) of Kyoto. (Maiko are apprentice geiko.) They nonetheless use this expression usually.
Is that so?
Commonplace Japanese: そうですね。
Kyoto-ben: そうどすなぁ 。
7. Oblique Expressions
Individuals from Kyoto are recognized for his or her politeness and indirectness.
That is usually illustrated by the sentence ぶぶ漬けでもどうどすか？ (ぶぶづけでも どうどすか？), which suggests, “How about some (rice) soup?” This expression is used to ask visitors to depart after a very lengthy keep. Solely individuals from Kyoto would know its true which means and make a fast excuse to depart.
These days, it’s utilized in an exaggerated means, nevertheless it nonetheless highlights an necessary distinction between Kyoto-ben and the opposite dialects.
8. Utilizing よし As a substitute of ～なさい
よし is a lightweight command used towards individuals of equal or decrease rank. It’s utilized in virtually the identical means as ～なさい however with out as a lot emphasis.
It’s best to examine.
Commonplace Japanese: 勉強しなさい。 (べんきょうしなさい。)
Kyoto-ben: 勉強しよし。 (べんきょうしよし。)
Different Assets for Studying Kansai-ben and Kyoto-ben
- Kansai Dialect Self-study Web site – A self-study website for Japanese learners, this website has all the fundamental grammar and phrases you have to begin your journey into the world of Kansai-ben.
- Colloquial Kansai Japanese Ebook – This ebook covers the variations between areas, helpful expressions and a whole lot of instance conversations that can have you ever acquainted with Kansai-ben faster than you suppose.
As a bonus, let me introduce you to the language studying platform FluentU, the place you may watch Kyoto-ben in motion.
Now get on the market and begin utilizing all these nice tidbits of knowledge and assets! You’ll be talking like a Kyoto native very quickly.
Obtain:
This weblog submit is on the market as a handy and moveable PDF that you simply
can take anyplace.
Click on right here to get a replica. (Obtain)
And One Extra Factor…
When you love studying Japanese with genuine supplies, then I must also inform you extra about FluentU.
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All definitions have a number of examples, they usually’re written for Japanese learners such as you. Faucet so as to add phrases you’d prefer to overview to a vocab checklist.
And FluentU has a study mode which turns each video right into a language studying lesson. You’ll be able to at all times swipe left or proper to see extra examples.
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