View source for Kansai dialect

{{Short description|Japanese dialect}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=March 2008}}
{{Infobox language
|name          = Kansai Japanese
|nativename    = {{lang|ja|関西弁}}
|states        = [[Japan]]
|region        = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
|speakers      =?
|date          =
|ref           =
|familycolor   = Altaic
|fam1          = [[Japonic languages|Japonic]]
|fam2          = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
|fam3          = [[Western Japanese]]
|fam4          =
|isoexception  = dialect
|glotto        = kink1238
|glottorefname = Kinki
|lingua        =
|map           = Kansai_dialect_(outline).png
|mapcaption    = Kansai-dialect area
|notice        = IPA
}}

[[File:いわしを食べなあかん！.jpg|thumb|A label in Kansai dialect. The advertisement, {{Transliteration|ja|Iwashi o tabena akan!}}, translates as "You must eat sardines!"]]
[[File:Chikan akan.jpg|thumb|A poster written in Kansai dialect. The warning, {{Transliteration|ja|Chikan wa akan de. Zettai akan de}}, translates as "[[Chikan (body contact)|Groping]] is forbidden. Absolutely forbidden."]]
[[File:Osaka-ben hittakuri caution.jpg|thumb|A caution written in Kansai dialect. The warning, {{Transliteration|ja|Kii tsuke yā, Anta no koto ya de, Sono baggu}}, translates as "Take care! Do not let your bag get [[snatch theft|snatched]]!"]]

The {{Nihongo|'''Kansai dialect'''|関西弁・関西方言|Kansai-ben, Kansai hōgen|{{IPA|ja|kaɰ̃.sai.beɴ, kaɰ̃.sai hoː.ɡeꜜɴ, -ŋeꜜɴ, kaɰ̃.sai hoꜜː.ɡeɴ, -ŋeɴ}}}} is a group of [[Japanese dialects]] in the [[Kansai region]] (Kinki region) of Japan. In Japanese, {{Transliteration|ja|Kansai-ben}} is the common name and it is called {{Nihongo|'''Kinki dialect'''|近畿方言|Kinki-hōgen}} in technical terms. The dialects of [[Kyoto]] and [[Osaka]] are known as {{Nihongo|'''Kamigata dialect'''|上方言葉|[[Kamigata]] kotoba|or {{Nihongo||上方語|Kamigata-go}}}}, and were particularly referred to as such in the [[Edo period]]. The Kansai dialect is typified by the speech of Osaka, the major city of Kansai, which is referred to specifically as {{Transliteration|ja|Osaka-ben}}. It is characterized as being both more melodic and harsher by speakers of the standard language.<ref name="omusubi">[http://www.jpf.org.au/06_newsletter/hitokuchi_3new.pdf Omusubi: Japan's Regional Diversity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214022535/http://www.jpf.org.au/06_newsletter/hitokuchi_3new.pdf |date=2006-12-14 }}, retrieved January 23, 2007</ref>

== Background ==
Since Osaka is the largest city in the region and its speakers received the most media exposure over the last century, non-Kansai-dialect speakers tend to associate the dialect of Osaka with the entire Kansai region. However, technically, Kansai dialect is not a single dialect but a group of related dialects in the region. Each major city and prefecture has a particular dialect, and residents take some pride in their particular dialectal variations.

The common Kansai dialect is spoken in [[Keihanshin]] (the metropolitan areas of the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and [[Kobe]]) and its surroundings, a radius of about {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} around the Osaka-Kyoto area (see [[#Regional differences|regional differences]]).<ref name="Okumura 1968">Mitsuo Okumura (1968). {{nihongo||関西弁の地理的範囲|Kansaiben no chiriteki han'i}}. {{nihongo||言語生活|Gengo seikatsu}} 202 number. Tokyo: Chikuma Shobo.</ref> This article mainly discusses variations in Keihanshin during the 20th and 21st centuries.

Even in the Kansai region, away from Keihanshin and its surrounding areas, there are dialects that differ from the characteristics generally considered to be Kansai dialect-like. [[Tajima Province|Tajima]] and [[Tango Province|Tango]] (except [[Maizuru, Kyoto|Maizuru]]) dialects in northwest Kansai are too different to be regarded as Kansai dialects and are thus usually included in the [[Chūgoku dialect]]. Dialects spoken in Southeastern [[Kii Peninsula]] including [[Totsukawa, Nara|Totsukawa]] and [[Owase, Mie|Owase]] are also far different from other Kansai dialects, and considered a [[language island]].

The [[Shikoku dialect]] and the [[Hokuriku dialect]] share many similarities with the Kansai dialects, but are classified separately.

== History ==
{{external media
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| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnALwCUp_Mk   Taxi (YouTube)]<br />An example of a skit in Osaka dialect performed by [[Nakagawake]].
}}
The Kansai dialect has over a thousand years of history. When [[Kinai]] cities such as [[Heijō-kyō]] ([[Nara, Nara|Nara]]), [[Naniwa-kyō]] (Osaka) and [[Heian-kyō]] (Kyoto) were Imperial capitals, the Kinai dialect, the ancestor of the Kansai dialect, was the ''de facto'' standard Japanese. It had an influence on all of the nation including the [[Edo]] dialect, the predecessor of modern Tokyo dialect. The literature style developed by the intelligentsia in Heian-kyō became the model of [[Classical Japanese language]].

When the political and military center of Japan was moved to [[Edo]] under the [[Tokugawa Shogunate]] and the [[Kantō region]] grew in prominence, the Edo dialect took the place of the Kansai dialect. With the [[Meiji Restoration]] and the transfer of the imperial capital from Kyoto to Tokyo, the Kansai dialect became fixed in position as a provincial dialect. See also [[Early Modern Japanese]].

As the Tokyo dialect was adopted with the advent of a national education/media standard in Japan, some features of the Kansai dialect have diminished and changed. However, Kansai is the second most populated urban region in Japan after Kantō, with a population of about 20 million, so Kansai dialect is still the most widely spoken, known and influential non-standard Japanese dialect. The Kansai dialect's idioms are sometimes introduced into other dialects and even standard Japanese. Many Kansai people are attached to their own speech and have strong regional rivalry against Tokyo.<ref>Fumiko Inoue (2009). {{nihongo||関西における方言と共通語|Kansai ni okeru hōgen to Kyōtsūgo}}. {{nihongo||月刊言語|Gekkan gengo}} 456 number. Tokyo: Taishukan Shoten.</ref>

Since the [[Taishō period]], the {{Transliteration|ja|[[manzai]]}} form of Japanese comedy has been developed in Osaka, and a large number of Osaka-based comedians have appeared in Japanese media with Osaka dialect (See also [[Yoshimoto Kogyo]]). Because of such associations, Kansai speakers are often viewed as being more "funny" or "talkative" than typical speakers of other dialects. Tokyo people even occasionally imitate the Kansai dialect to provoke laughter or inject humor.<ref>Masataka Jinnouchi (2003). ''Studies in regionalism in communication and the effect of the Kansai dialect on it''.</ref>

== Phonology ==
{{See also|Japanese phonology}}
In phonetic terms, Kansai dialect is characterized by strong vowels and contrasted with Tokyo dialect, characterized by its strong consonants, but the basis of the phonemes is similar. The specific phonetic differences between Kansai and Tokyo are as follows:<ref name="Umegaki 1962">Umegaki (1962)</ref>

=== Vowels ===
[[File:Icoca de ikoka.jpg|thumb|200px|A signboard written in Kansai dialect at [[Kusatsu Station (Shiga)|Kusatsu Station]] in [[Kusatsu, Shiga]]. The message, ''[[ICOCA]] de iko ka!'', translates as "Let's go with ICOCA!" ICOCA is a rechargeable contactless [[smart card]]. Its name is a play on the Kansai phrase ''"iko ka!"'' ("Let's go!").]]
*{{IPA|/u/}} is nearer to {{IPAblink|u}} than to {{IPAblink|ɯ}}.
*In Standard, [[vowel reduction]] frequently occurs, but it is rare in Kansai. For example, the polite copula {{nihongo||です|desu}} is pronounced nearly as {{IPA|[des]}} in standard Japanese, but Kansai speakers tend to pronounce it distinctly as {{IPA|/desu/}} or even {{IPA|/desuː/}}.
*In some registers, such as informal Tokyo speech, [[Hiatus (linguistics)|hiatuses]] {{IPA|/ai, ae, oi/}} often fuse into {{IPA|/eː/}}, as in {{lang|ja|うめえ}} {{IPA|/umeː/}} and {{lang|ja|すげえ}} {{IPA|/suɡeː/}} instead of {{lang|ja|旨い}} {{IPA|/umai/}} "yummy" and {{lang|ja|凄い}} {{IPA|/suɡoi/}} "great", but {{IPA|/ai, ae, oi/}} are usually pronounced distinctly in Kansai dialect. In Wakayama, {{IPA|/ei/}} is also pronounced distinctly; it usually fuses into {{IPA|/eː/}} in standard Japanese and almost all other dialects.
*A recurring tendency to lengthen vowels at the end of [[Mora (linguistics)|monomoraic]] nouns. Common examples are {{IPA|/kiː/}} for {{lang|ja|木}} {{IPA|/ki/}} "tree", {{IPA|/kaː/}} for {{lang|ja|蚊}} {{IPA|/ka/}} "mosquito" and {{IPA|/meː/}} for {{lang|ja|目}} {{IPA|/me/}} "eye".
*Contrarily, long vowels in Standard inflections are sometimes shortened. This is particularly noticeable in the volitional conjugation of verbs. For instance, {{lang|ja|"行こうか？"}} {{IPA|/ikoː ka/}} meaning "shall we go?" is shortened in Kansai to {{lang|ja|"行こか？"}} {{IPA|/iko ka/}}. The common phrase of agreement, {{lang|ja|"そうだ"}} {{IPA|/soː da/}} meaning "that's it", is replaced {{lang|ja|"そや"}} {{IPA|/so ja/}} or even {{lang|ja|"せや"}} {{IPA|/se ja/}} in Kansai.
*When vowels and semivowel {{IPA|/j/}} follow {{IPA|/i, e/}}, they sometimes [[Palatalization (phonetics)|palatalize]] with {{IPA|/N/}} or {{IPA|/Q/}}. For example, {{lang|ja|"好きやねん"}} {{IPA|/sukija neN/}} "I love you" becomes {{lang|ja|'好っきゃねん'}} {{IPA|/suQkja neN/}}, 日曜日 {{IPA|/nitijoːbi/}} "Sunday" becomes にっちょうび {{IPA|/niQtjoːbi/}} and 賑やか {{IPA|/niɡijaka/}} "lively, busy" becomes にんぎゃか {{IPA|/niNɡjaka/}}.

=== Consonants ===
[[File:Hichi.jpg|thumb|A pawnshop signboard in Osaka]]
*The syllable ひ {{IPA|/hi/}} is nearer to {{IPA|[hi]}} than to {{IPA|[çi]}}.
*The ''[[yotsugana]]'' are two distinct syllables, as they are in Tokyo, but Kansai speakers tend to pronounce じ {{IPA|/zi/}} and ず {{IPA|/zu/}} as {{IPA|[ʑi]}} and {{IPA|[zu]}} in place of Standard {{IPA|[dʑi]}} and {{IPA|[dzɯ]}}.
*Intervocalic {{IPA|/ɡ/}} is pronounced either {{IPA|[ŋ]}} or {{IPA|[ɡ]}} in free variation, but {{IPA|[ŋ]}} is declining now.
*In provocative speech, {{IPA|/r/}} becomes {{IPAblink|r}}, similar to the [[Yamanote and Shitamachi#Speech|Tokyo Shitamachi dialect]].
*The use of {{IPA|/h/}} in place of {{IPA|/s/}}. Some [[debuccalization]] of {{IPA|/s/}} is apparent in most Kansai speakers, but it seems to have progressed more in morphological suffixes and inflections than in core vocabulary. This process has produced はん {{IPA|/-haN/}} for さん ''-[[Japanese titles#San|san]]'' "Mr., Ms.", まへん {{IPA|/-maheN/}} for ません {{IPA|/-maseN/}} (formal negative form), まひょ {{IPA|/-mahjo/}} for ましょう {{IPA|/-masjoː/}} (formal volitional form), and ひちや {{IPA|/hiti-ja/}} for 質屋 {{IPA|/siti-ja/}} "pawnshop", among other examples.
*The change of {{IPA|/m/}} and {{IPA|/b/}} in some words such as さぶい {{IPA|/sabui/}} for 寒い {{IPA|/samui/}} "cold".
*Especially in the rural areas, {{IPA|/z, d, r/}} are sometimes harmonized or metathesized. For example, でんでん {{IPA|/deNdeN/}} for 全然 {{IPA|/zeNzeN/}} "never, not at all", かだら {{IPA|/kadara/}} or からら {{IPA|/karara/}} for 体 {{IPA|/karada/}} "body". A play on words around these sound changes goes as follows: 淀川の水飲んれ腹らら下りや {{IPA|/joroɡawa no miru noNre hara rarakurari ja/}} for 淀川の水飲んで腹だだ下りや {{IPA|/jodoɡawa no mizu noNde hara dadakudari ja/}} "I drank water of [[Yodo River]] and have the trots".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.osaka-info.jp/ja/model/osakaben/html/0034.html|script-title=ja:大阪弁完全マスター講座 第三十四話 よろがわ|trans-title=Osaka-ben perfect master lecture No. 34 Yoro River|language=ja|publisher=Osaka Convention Bureau|access-date=July 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320101838/http://www.osaka-info.jp/ja/model/osakaben/html/0034.html|archive-date=March 20, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*The {{IPA|/r/}} + vowel in the verb conjugations is sometimes changed to {{IPA|/N/}}, similar to colloquial Tokyo speech. For example, 何してるねん？ {{IPA|/nani shiteru neN/}} "What are you doing?" often changes 何してんねん？ {{IPA|/nani shiteN neN/}} in fluent Kansai speech.

=== Pitch accent ===
{{See also|Japanese pitch accent}}
[[File:Japanese pitch accent map-ja.png|thumb|300px|Map of Japanese pitch accents. The Kyoto-Osaka type accent is used in the orange area while the Tokyo type accent is used in the blue area.]]
The [[Pitch-accent language|pitch accent]] in Kansai dialect is very different from the standard Tokyo accent, so non-Kansai Japanese can recognize Kansai people easily from that alone. The Kansai pitch accent is called the Kyoto-Osaka type accent ([[:ja:京阪式アクセント|京阪式アクセント]], ''Keihan-shiki akusento'') in technical terms. It is used in most of Kansai, [[Shikoku]] and parts of western [[Chūbu region]]. The Tokyo accent distinguishes words only by [[downstep (phonetics)|downstep]], but the Kansai accent distinguishes words also by initial tones, so Kansai dialect has more pitch patterns than standard Japanese. In the Tokyo accent, the pitch between first and second [[mora (linguistics)|mora]]e usually changes, but in the Kansai accent, it does not always.

Below is a list of simplified Kansai accent patterns. H represents a high pitch and L represents a low pitch.
# {{nihongo|High-initial accent|高起式|kōki-shiki}} or {{nihongo|Flat-straight accent|平進式|Heishin-shiki}}
#* The high pitch appears on the first mora and the others are low: H-L, H-L-L, H-L-L-L, etc.
#* The high pitch continues for the set mora and the rest are low: H-H-L, H-H-L-L, H-H-H-L, ''etc.''
#* The high pitch continues to the last: H-H, H-H-H, H-H-H-H, ''etc.''
# {{nihongo|Low-initial accent|低起式|teiki-shiki}} or {{nihongo|Ascent accent|上昇式|Jōshō-shiki}}
#* The pitch rises drastically on the middle set mora and falls again: L-H-L, L-H-L-L, L-L-H-L, ''etc.''
#* The pitch rises drastically on the last mora: L-L-H, L-L-L-H, L-L-L-L-H, ''etc.''
#** If high-initial accent words or particles attach to the end of the word, all morae are low: L-L-L(-H), L-L-L-L(-H), L-L-L-L-L(-H)
#* With two-mora words, there are two accent patterns. Both of these tend to be realized in recent years as L-H, L-H(-L).<ref>NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute (1998). {{nihongo|NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典||NHK Nihongo Hatsuon Akusento Jiten}}. pp149-150. {{ISBN|978-4-14-011112-3}}</ref>
#** The second mora rises and falls quickly. If words or particles attach to the end of the word, the fall is sometimes not realized: L-HL, L-HL(-L) or L-H(-L)
#** The second mora does not fall. If high-initial words or particles attach to the end of the word, both morae are low: L-H, L-L(-H)

{| class="wikitable" align="center" cellpadding="7" style="clear:both;"
|-align="center"
!!!!!Kansai!!Tokyo!!English
|-
!rowspan=3|hashi
|{{wt|ja|橋}}
|H-L
|L-H(-L)
|bridge
|-
|{{wt|ja|箸}}
|L-H
|H-L
|chopsticks
|-
|{{wt|ja|端}}
|H-H
|L-H(-H)
|edge
|-
!Nihon
|{{wt|ja|日本}}
|H-L-L
|L-H-L
|Japan
|-
!nihon
|{{wt|ja|二本}}
|L-L-H
|H-L-L
|2-[[Japanese counter word|''hon'']]
|-
!konnichi wa
|{{wt|ja|今日は}}
|L-H-L-L-H
|L-H-H-H-H
|good afternoon
|-
!arigatō
|{{wt|ja|ありがとう}}
|L-L-L-H-L
|L-H-L-L-L
|thanks
|}

== Grammar ==
{{See also|Japanese grammar|Japanese verb conjugation|Japanese dialects#Eastern and Western Japanese}}
Many words and grammar structures in Kansai dialect are contractions of their [[classical Japanese]] equivalents (it is unusual to contract words in such a way in standard Japanese). For example, ''chigau'' (to be different or wrong) becomes ''chau'', ''yoku'' (well) becomes ''yō'', and ''omoshiroi'' (interesting or funny) becomes ''omoroi''. These contractions follow similar inflection rules as their standard forms, so ''chau'' said politely is ''chaimasu'' in the same way as ''chigau'' is inflected to ''chigaimasu''.

=== Verbs ===
Kansai dialect also has [[Japanese godan and ichidan verbs|two types of regular verb]], 五段 ''godan verbs'' (''-u'' verbs) and 一段 ''ichidan verbs'' (''-ru'' verbs), and two irregular verbs, 来る {{IPA|/kuru/}} ("to come") and する {{IPA|/suru/}} ("to do"), but some conjugations are different from standard Japanese.

The geminated consonants found in godan verbs of standard Japanese verbal inflections are usually replaced with long vowels (often [[Clipping (morphology)|shortened]] in 3 morae verbs) in Kansai dialect (See also [[Late Middle Japanese#Onbin|Onbin]], [[u-onbin]]). Thus, for the verb 言う {{IPA|/iu, juː/}} ("to say"), the past tense in standard Japanese 言った {{IPA|/iQta/}} ("said") becomes 言うた {{IPA|/juːta/}} in Kansai dialect. This particular verb is emblematic of a native Kansai speaker, as most will unconsciously say 言うて {{IPA|/juːte/}} instead of 言って {{IPA|/iQte/}} or {{IPA|/juQte/}} even if well-practiced at speaking in standard Japanese. Other examples of geminate replacement are 笑った {{IPA|/waraQta/}} ("laughed") becoming 笑うた {{IPA|/waroːta/}} or わろた {{IPA|/warota/}} and 貰った {{IPA|/moraQta/}} ("received") becoming 貰うた {{IPA|/moroːta/}}, もろた {{IPA|/morota/}} or even もうた {{IPA|/moːta/}}.

An [[auxiliary verb]] -てしまう {{IPA|/-te simau/}} (to finish something or to do something in unintentional or unfortunate circumstances) is contracted to -ちまう {{IPA|/-timau/}} or -ちゃう {{IPA|/-tjau/}} in colloquial Tokyo speech but to -てまう {{IPA|/-temau/}} in Kansai speech. Thus, しちまう {{IPA|/sitimau/}}, or しちゃう {{IPA|/sitjau/}}, becomes してまう {{IPA|/sitemau/}}. Furthermore, as the verb しまう {{IPA|/simau/}} is affected by the same sound changes as in other 五段 godan verbs, the past tense of this form is rendered as -てもうた {{IPA|/-temoːta/}} or -てもた {{IPA|/-temota/}} rather than -ちまった {{IPA|/-timaQta/}} or -ちゃった {{IPA|/-tjaQta/}}: 忘れちまった {{IPA|/wasuretimaQta/}} or 忘れちゃった {{IPA|/wasuretjaQta/}} ("I forgot [it]") in Tokyo is 忘れてもうた {{IPA|/wasuretemoːta/}} or 忘れてもた {{IPA|/wasuretemota/}} in Kansai.

The long vowel of the volitional form is often shortened; for example, 使おう {{IPA|/tukaoː/}} (the volitional form of ''tsukau'') becomes 使お {{IPA|/tukao/}}, 食べよう {{IPA|/tabejoː/}} (the volitional form of 食べる {{IPA|/taberu/}}) becomes 食べよ {{IPA|/tabejo/}}. The irregular verb する {{IPA|/suru/}} has special volitional form しょ（う） {{IPA|/sjo(ː)/}} instead of しよう {{IPA|/sijoː/}}. The volitional form of another irregular verb 来る {{IPA|/kuru/}} is 来よう {{IPA|/kojoː/}} as well as the standard Japanese, but when 来る {{IPA|/kuru/}} is used as an auxiliary verb -てくる {{IPA|/-te kuru/}}, -てこよう {{IPA|/-te kojoː/}} is sometimes replaced with -てこ（う） {{IPA|/-te ko(ː)/}} in Kansai.

The [[causative]] verb ending {{IPA|/-aseru/}} is usually replaced with {{IPA|/-asu/}} in Kansai dialect; for example, させる {{IPA|/saseru/}} (causative form of {{IPA|/suru/}}) changes さす {{IPA|/sasu/}}, 言わせる {{IPA|/iwaseru/}} (causative form of 言う {{IPA|/juː/}}) changes 言わす {{IPA|/iwasu/}}. Its -te form {{IPA|/-asete/}} and perfective form {{IPA|/-aseta/}} change to {{IPA|/-asite/}} and {{IPA|/-asita/}}; they also appear in transitive ichidan verbs such as 見せる {{IPA|/miseru/}} ("to show"), e.g. 見して {{IPA|/misite/}} for 見せて {{IPA|/misete/}}.

The potential verb endings {{IPA|/-eru/}} for 五段 godan and -られる {{IPA|/-rareru/}} for 一段 ichidan, recently often shortened -れる {{IPA|/-reru/}} ([[ra-nuki kotoba]]), are common between the standard Japanese and Kansai dialect. For making their negative forms, it is only to replace -ない {{IPA|/-nai/}} with -ん {{IPA|/-N/}} or -へん {{IPA|/-heN/}} (See [[#Negative|Negative]]). However, mainly in Osaka, potential negative form of 五段 godan verbs {{IPA|/-enai/}} is often replaced with {{IPA|/-areheN/}} such as 行かれへん {{IPA|/ikareheN/}} instead of 行けない {{IPA|/ikenai/}} and 行けへん {{IPA|/ikeheN/}} "can't go". This is because {{IPA|/-eheN/}} overlaps with Osakan negative conjugation. In western Japanese including Kansai dialect, a combination of an adverb よう {{IPA|/joː/}} and -ん {{IPA|/-N/}} negative form is used as a negative form of the personal impossibility such as よう言わん {{IPA|/joː iwaN/}} "I can't say anything (in disgust or diffidence)".

==== Existence verbs ====
In Standard Japanese, the verb ''[[Japanese possessives#Iru and Aru|iru]]'' is used for reference to the existence of an [[animacy|animate]] object, and ''iru'' is replaced with ''oru'' in [[Honorific speech in Japanese#Humble language|humble language]] and some written language. In western Japanese, ''oru'' is used not only in humble language but also in all other situations instead of ''iru''.

Kansai dialect belongs to western Japanese, but いる {{IPA|/iru/}} and its variation, いてる {{IPA|/iteru/}} (mainly Osaka), are used in Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga and so on. People in these areas, especially Kyoto women, tend to consider おる {{IPA|/oru/}} an outspoken or contempt word. They usually use it for mates, inferiors and animals; avoid using for elders (exception: respectful expression ''orareru'' and humble expression ''orimasu''). In other areas such as Hyogo and Mie, いる {{IPA|/iru/}} is hardly used and おる {{IPA|/oru/}} does not have the negative usage. In parts of Wakayama, いる {{IPA|/iru/}} is replaced with ある {{IPA|/aru/}}, which is used for inanimate objects in most other dialects.

The verb おる {{IPA|/oru/}} is also used as a [[suffix]] and usually pronounced {{IPA|/-joru/}} in that case. In Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, northern Nara and parts of Mie, mainly in masculine speech, -よる {{IPA|/-joru/}} shows annoying or contempt feelings for a third party, usually milder than -やがる {{IPA|/-jaɡaru/}}. In Hyogo, southern Nara and parts of Wakayama, -よる {{IPA|/-joru/}} is used for progressive aspect (See [[#Aspect|Aspect]]).

==== Negative ====
In informal speech, the negative verb ending, which is -ない {{IPA|/-nai/}} in standard Japanese, is expressed with -ん {{IPA|/-N/}} or -へん {{IPA|/-heN/}}, as in 行かん {{IPA|/ikaN/}} and 行かへん {{IPA|/ikaheN/}} "not going", which is 行かない {{IPA|/ikanai/}} in standard Japanese. -ん {{IPA|/-N/}} is a transformation of the classical Japanese negative form -ぬ {{IPA|/-nu/}} and is also used for some idioms in standard Japanese. -へん {{IPA|/-heN/}} is the result of contraction and phonological change of はせん {{IPA|/-wa seN/}}, the emphatic form of {{IPA|/-N/}}. -やへん {{IPA|/-jaheN/}}, a transitional form between はせん {{IPA|/-wa seN/}} and へん {{IPA|/-heN/}}, is sometimes still used for 一段 ichidan verbs. The godan verbs conjugation before ''-hen'' has two varieties: the more common conjugation is {{IPA|/-aheN/}} like 行かへん {{IPA|/ik'''a'''heN/}}, but ''-ehen'' like 行けへん {{IPA|/ik'''e'''heN/}} is also used in Osaka. When the vowel before -へん {{IPA|/-heN/}} is {{IPA|/-i/}}, -へん {{IPA|/-heN/}} often changes to -ひん {{IPA|/-h'''i'''N/}}, especially in Kyoto. The past negative form is -んかった {{IPA|/-NkaQta/}} and {{IPA|/-heNkaQta/}}, a mixture of -ん {{IPA|/-N/}} or -へん {{IPA|/-heN/}} and the standard past negative form -なかった {{IPA|/-nakaQta/}}. In traditional Kansai dialect, -なんだ {{IPA|/-naNda/}} and -へなんだ {{IPA|/-henaNda/}} is used in the past negative form.

* 五段 godan verbs: 使う {{IPA|/tukau/}} ("to use") becomes 使わん {{IPA|/tukawaN/}} and 使わへん {{IPA|/tukawaheN/}}, 使えへん {{IPA|/tukaeheN/}}
* 上一段 kami-ichidan verbs: 起きる {{IPA|/okiru/}} ("to wake up") becomes 起きん {{IPA|/okiN/}} and 起きやへん {{IPA|/okijaheN/}}, 起きへん {{IPA|/okiheN/}}, 起きひん {{IPA|/okihiN/}}
** one mora verbs: 見る {{IPA|/miru/}} ("to see") becomes 見ん {{IPA|/miN/}} and 見やへん {{IPA|/mijaheN/}}, 見えへん {{IPA|/meːheN/}}, 見いひん {{IPA|/miːhiN/}}
* 下一段 shimo-ichidan verbs: 食べる {{IPA|/taberu/}} ("to eat") becomes 食べん {{IPA|/tabeN/}} and 食べやへん {{IPA|/tabejaheN/}}, 食べへん {{IPA|/tabeheN/}}
** one mora verbs: 寝る {{IPA|/neru/}} ("to sleep") becomes 寝ん {{IPA|/neN/}} and 寝やへん {{IPA|/nejaheN/}}, 寝えへん {{IPA|/neːheN/}}
* s-irregular verb: する {{IPA|/suru/}} becomes せん {{IPA|/seN/}} and しやへん {{IPA|/sijaheN/}}, せえへん {{IPA|/seːheN/}}, しいひん {{IPA|/siːhiN/}}
* k-irregular verb: 来る {{IPA|/kuru/}} becomes 来ん {{IPA|/koN/}} and きやへん {{IPA|/kijaheN/}}, けえへん {{IPA|/keːheN/}}, きいひん {{IPA|/kiːhiN/}}
** 来おへん {{IPA|/koːheN/}}, a mixture けえへん {{IPA|/keːheN/}} with standard 来ない {{IPA|/konai/}}, is also used lately by young people, especially in Kobe.

Generally speaking, -へん {{IPA|/-heN/}} is used in almost negative sentences and -ん {{IPA|/-N/}} is used in strong negative sentences and idiomatic expressions. For example, -んといて {{IPA|/-N toite/}} or -んとって {{IPA|/-N toQte/}} instead of standard -ないで {{IPA|/-nai de/}} means "please do not to do"; -んでもええ {{IPA|/-N demo eː/}} instead of standard -なくてもいい {{IPA|/-nakutemo iː/}} means "need not do";-んと（あかん） {{IPA|/-N to (akaN)/}} instead of standard -なくちゃ（いけない） {{IPA|/-nakutja (ikenai)/}} or -なければならない {{IPA|/-nakereba (naranai)/}} means "must do". The last expression can be replaced by -な（あかん）{{IPA|/-na (akaN)/}} or -んならん {{IPA|/-N naraN/}}.

==== Imperative ====
Kansai dialect has two imperative forms. One is the normal imperative form, inherited from [[Late Middle Japanese]]. The -ろ {{IPA|/-ro/}} form for ichidan verbs in standard Japanese is much rarer and replaced by {{IPA|/-i/}} or {{IPA|/-e/}} in Kansai. The normal imperative form is often followed by よ {{IPA|/jo/}} or や {{IPA|/ja/}}. The other is a soft and somewhat feminine form which uses the {{nihongo|adverbial|連用形|ren'yōkei}} (ます {{IPA|/-masu/}} stem), an abbreviation of {{nihongo|adverbial|連用形|ren'yōkei}} + {{IPA|/nasai/}}. The end of the soft imperative form is often elongated and is generally followed by や {{IPA|/ja/}} or な {{IPA|/na/}}. In Kyoto, women often add よし {{IPA|/-josi/}} to the soft imperative form.

* godan verbs: 使う {{IPA|/tukau/}} becomes 使え {{IPA|/tukae/}} in the normal form, 使い（い） {{IPA|/tukai(ː)/}} in the soft one.
* 上一段 kami-ichidan verbs: 起きる {{IPA|/okiru/}} becomes 起きい {{IPA|/okiː/}} (L-H-L) in the normal form, 起き（い） {{IPA|/oki(ː)/}} (L-L-H) in the soft one.
* 下一段 shimo-ichidan verbs: 食べる {{IPA|/taberu/}} becomes 食べえ {{IPA|/tabeː/}} (L-H-L) in the normal form, 食べ（え） {{IPA|/tabe(ː)/}} (L-L-H) in the soft one.
* s-irregular verb: する {{IPA|/suru/}} becomes せえ {{IPA|/seː/}} in the normal form, し（い） {{IPA|/si(ː)/}} in the soft one.
* k-irregular verb: 来る {{IPA|/kuru/}} becomes こい {{IPA|/koi/}} in the normal form, き（い） {{IPA|/ki(ː)/}} in the soft one.

In the negative imperative mood, Kansai dialect also has the somewhat soft form which uses the ''ren'yōkei'' + な {{IPA|/na/}}, an abbreviation of the ''ren'yōkei'' + なさるな {{IPA|/nasaruna/}}. な {{IPA|/na/}} sometimes changes to なや {{IPA|/naja/}} or ないな {{IPA|/naina/}}. This soft negative imperative form is the same as the soft imperative and な {{IPA|/na/}}, Kansai speakers can recognize the difference by accent, but Tokyo speakers are sometimes confused by a command ''not to do'' something, which they interpret as an order to ''do'' it. Accent on the soft imperative form is flat, and the accent on the soft negative imperative form has a downstep before ''na''.

* 五段 godan verbs: 使う {{IPA|/tukau/}} becomes 使うな {{IPA|/tukauna/}} in the normal form, 使いな {{IPA|/tukaina/}} in the soft one.
* 上一段 kami-ichidan verbs: 起きる {{IPA|/okiru/}} becomes 起きるな {{IPA|/okiruna/}} in the normal form, 起きな {{IPA|/okina/}} in the soft one.
* 下一段 shimo-ichidan verbs: 食べる {{IPA|/taberu/}} becomes 食べるな {{IPA|/taberuna/}} in the normal form, 食べな {{IPA|/tabena/}} in the soft one.
* s-irregular verb: する {{IPA|/suru/}} becomes するな {{IPA|/suruna/}} or すな {{IPA|/suna/}} in the normal form, しな {{IPA|/sina/}} in the soft one.
* k-irregular verb: 来る {{IPA|/kuru/}} becomes 来るな {{IPA|/kuruna/}} in the normal form, きな {{IPA|/kina/}} in the soft one.

=== Adjectives ===
The [[Stem (linguistics)|stem]] of adjective forms in Kansai dialect is generally the same as in standard Japanese, except for regional vocabulary differences. The same process that reduced the Classical Japanese terminal and attributive endings (し {{IPA|/-si/}} and き {{IPA|/-ki/}}, respectively) to {{IPA|/-i/}} has reduced also the ren'yōkei ending く {{IPA|/-ku/}} to {{IPA|/-u/}}, yielding such forms as 早う {{IPA|/hajoː/}} (contraction of 早う {{IPA|/hajau/}}) for 早く {{IPA|/hajaku/}} ("quickly"). Dropping the consonant from the final mora in all forms of adjective endings has been a frequent occurrence in Japanese over the centuries (and is the origin of such forms as ありがとう {{IPA|/ariɡatoː/}} and おめでとう {{IPA|/omedetoː/}}), but the Kantō speech preserved く {{IPA|/-ku/}} while reducing し {{IPA|/-si/}} and き {{IPA|/-ki/}} to {{IPA|/-i/}}, thus accounting for the discrepancy in the standard language (see also [[Late Middle Japanese#Onbin|Onbin]])

The {{IPA|/-i/}} ending can be dropped and the last vowel of the adjective's stem can be stretched out for a second [[mora (linguistics)|mora]], sometimes with a tonal change for emphasis. By this process, ''omoroi'' "interesting, funny" becomes ''omorō'' and ''atsui'' "hot" becomes ''atsū'' or ''attsū''. This use of the adjective's stem, often as an exclamation, is seen in classical literature and many dialects of modern Japanese, but is more often used in modern Kansai dialect.

There is not a special conjugated form for presumptive of adjectives in Kansai dialect, it is just addition of やろ {{IPA|/jaro/}} to the plain form. For example, 安かろう {{IPA|/jasukaroː/}} (the presumptive form of 安い {{IPA|/jasui/}} "cheap") is hardly used and is usually replaced with the plain form + やろ {{IPA|/jaro/}} likes 安いやろ {{IPA|/jasui jaro/}}. Polite suffixes です/だす/どす {{IPA|/desu, dasu, dosu/}} and ます {{IPA|/-masu/}} are also added やろ {{IPA|/jaro/}} for presumptive form instead of でしょう {{IPA|/desjoː/}} in standard Japanese. For example, 今日は晴れでしょう {{IPA|/kjoː wa hare desjoː/}}  ("It may be fine weather today") is replaced with 今日は晴れですやろ {{IPA|/kjoː wa hare desu jaro/}}.

=== Copulae ===
[[File:Ja da ya.png|thumb|220px|''Ya'' is used mainly in the zone colored in yellow.]]
The standard Japanese [[copula (linguistics)|copula]] ''da'' is replaced by the Kansai dialect copula ''ya''. The inflected forms maintain this difference, resulting in ''yaro'' for ''darō'' (presumptive), ''yatta'' for ''datta'' (past); ''darō'' is often considered to be a masculine expression, but ''yaro'' is used by both men and women. The negative copula ''de wa nai'' or ''ja nai'' is replaced by ''ya nai'' or ''ya arahen/arehen'' in Kansai dialect. ''Ya'' originated from ''ja'' (a variation of ''dearu'') in late Edo period and is still commonly used in other parts of western Japan like [[Hiroshima]], and is also used stereotypically by old men in fiction.

''Ya'' and ''ja'' are used only informally, analogically to the standard ''da'', while the standard ''desu'' is by and large used for the polite (teineigo) copula. For polite speech, -''masu'', ''desu'' and ''gozaimasu'' are used in Kansai as well as in Tokyo, but traditional Kansai dialect has its own polite forms. ''Desu'' is replaced by ''dasu'' in Osaka and ''dosu'' in Kyoto. There is another unique polite form ''omasu'' and it is often replaced by ''osu'' in Kyoto. The usage of ''omasu/osu'' is same as ''gozaimasu'', the polite form of the verb ''aru'' and also be used for polite form of adjectives, but it is more informal than ''gozaimasu''. In Osaka, ''dasu'' and ''omasu'' are sometimes shortened to ''da'' and ''oma''. ''Omasu'' and ''osu'' have their negative forms ''omahen'' and ''ohen''.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ The politeness levels of copula
|-
!
!impolite
!informal
!polite1
!polite2
!polite formal
|-
!Osaka
|rowspan=2|''ja''
|rowspan=2|''ya''
|''dasu''
|''de omasu''
|rowspan=2|''de gozaimasu''
|-
!Kyoto
|colspan=2|''dosu''
|}

When some sentence-final particles and a presumptive inflection ''yaro'' follow -''su'' ending polite forms, ''su'' is often combined especially in Osaka. Today, this feature is usually considered to be dated or exaggerated Kansai dialect.
* -n'na (-su + na), emphasis. e.g. ''Bochi-bochi den'na.'' ("So-so, you know.")
* -n'nen (-su + nen), emphasis. e.g. ''Chaiman'nen.'' ("It is wrong")
* -ngana (-su + gana), emphasis. e.g. ''Yoroshū tanomimangana.'' ("Nice to meet you")
* -kka (-su + ka), question. e.g. ''Mōkarimakka?'' ("How's business?")
* -n'no (-su + no), question. e.g. ''Nani yūteman'no?'' ("What are you talking about?")
* -sse (-su + e, a variety of yo), explain, advise. e.g. ''Ee toko oshiemasse!'' ("I'll show you a nice place!")
* -ssharo (-su + yaro), surmise, make sure. e.g. ''Kyō wa hare dessharo.'' ("It may be fine weather today")

=== Aspect ===
In common Kansai dialect, there are two forms for the [[continuous and progressive aspects]] -''teru'' and -''toru''; the former is a shortened form of -''te iru'' just as does standard Japanese, the latter is a shortened form of -''te oru'' which is common to other western Japanese. The proper use between -''teru'' and -''toru'' is same as [[#Existence verbs|''iru'' and ''oru'']].

In the expression to the condition of inanimate objects, -''taru'' or -''taaru'' form, a shortened form of -''te aru''. In standard Japanese, -''te aru'' is only used with [[transitive verb]]s, but Kansai -''taru'' or -''taaru'' is also used with [[intransitive verb]]s. One should note that -''te yaru'', "to do for someone," is also contracted to -''taru'' (-''charu'' in Senshu and Wakayama), so as not to confuse the two.

Other Western Japanese as Chūgoku and Shikoku dialects has the discrimination of [[grammatical aspect]], -''yoru'' in [[Continuous and progressive aspects|progressive]] and -''toru'' in [[Perfect (grammar)|perfect]]. In Kansai, some dialects of southern Hyogo and Kii Peninsula have these discrimination, too. In parts of Wakayama, -''yoru'' and -''toru'' are replaced with -''yaru'' and -''taaru/chaaru''.

=== Politeness ===
[[File:Okoshiyasu in Gion.jpg|thumb|''Okoshi yasu'' "Welcome" on a billboard for visitors in [[Gion]], Kyōto]]
{{See also|Honorific speech in Japanese}}
Historically, extensive use of keigo (honorific speech) was a feature of the Kansai dialect, especially in Kyōto, while the Kantō dialect, from which standard Japanese developed, formerly lacked it. Keigo in standard Japanese was originally borrowed from the medieval Kansai dialect. However, keigo is no longer considered a feature of the dialect since Standard Japanese now also has it. Even today, keigo is used more often in Kansai than in the other dialects except for the standard Japanese, to which people switch in formal situations.

In modern Kansai dialect, -''haru'' (sometimes -''yaharu'' except ''godan'' verbs, mainly Kyōto) is used for showing reasonable respect without formality especially in Kyōto. The conjugation before -''haru'' has two varieties between Kyōto and Ōsaka (see the table below). In Southern Hyōgo, including Kōbe, ''-te ya'' is used instead of -''haru''. In formal speech, -''naharu'' and -''haru'' connect with -''masu'' and -''te ya'' changes -''te desu''.

-''Haru'' was originally a shortened form of -''naharu'', a transformation of -''nasaru''. -''Naharu'' has been dying out due to the spread of -''haru'' but its imperative form -''nahare'' (mainly Ōsaka) or -''nahai'' (mainly Kyōto, also -''nai'') and negative imperative form -''nasan'na'' or -''nahan'na'' has comparatively survived because -''haru'' lacks an imperative form. In more honorific speech, ''o- yasu'', a transformation of ''o- asobasu'', is used especially in Kyōto and its original form is same to its imperative form, showing polite invitation or order. ''Oide yasu'' and ''okoshi yasu'' (more respectful), meaning "welcome", are the common phrases of sightseeing areas in Kyōto. -''Te okun nahare'' (also -''tokun nahare'', -''toku nahare'') and -''te okure yasu'' (also -''tokure yasu'', -''tokuryasu'') are used instead of -''te kudasai'' in standard Japanese.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ The honorific form of Kansai dialect
|-
!
! use
! see
! exist
! eat
! do
! come
! -te form
|-
! original
| tsukau
| miru
| iru, oru
| taberu
| suru
| kuru
| -teru
|-
! o- yasu
| otsukaiyasu
| omiyasu
| oiyasu
| otabeyasu
| oshiyasu
| okoshiyasu, oideyasu
| -toiyasu
|-
! -naharu
| tsukainaharu
| minaharu
| inaharu
| tabenaharu
| shinaharu
| kinaharu
| -tenaharu
|-
! -haru in Kyōto
| tsukawaharu
|rowspan="2"| miharu
|rowspan="2"| iharu<br>iteharu (mainly Ōsaka)
|rowspan="2"| tabeharu
|rowspan="2"| shiharu
|rowspan="2"| kiharu
| -taharu
|-
! -haru in Ōsaka
| tsukaiharu
| -teharu
|-
! -yaharu
|
| miyaharu
| iyaharu<br>yaharu
| tabeyaharu
| shiyaharu<br>shaharu
| kiyaharu<br>kyaharu
| -teyaharu
|-
! -te ya
| tsukōte ya
| mite ya
| otte ya
| tabete ya
| shite ya
| kite ya
| -totte ya
|}

=== Particles ===
{{See also|Japanese particles}}

There is some difference in the particles between Kansai dialect and standard Japanese. In colloquial Kansai dialect, {{nihongo|case markers|格助詞|kaku-joshi}} are often left out especially the [[accusative case]] ''o'' and the quotation particles ''to'' and ''te'' (equivalent to ''tte'' in standard). The ellipsis of ''to'' and ''te'' happens only before two verbs: ''yū'' (to say) and ''omou'' (to think). For example, ''Tanaka-san to yū hito'' ("a man called Mr. Tanaka") can change to ''Tanaka-san yū hito''. And ''to yū'' is sometimes contracted to ''chū'' or ''tchū'' instead of ''te'', ''tsū'' or ''ttsū'' in Tokyo. For example, ''nanto yū koto da!'' or ''nante kotta!'' ("My goodness!") becomes ''nanchū kotcha!'' in Kansai.

The {{nihongo|interjectory particle|間投助詞|kantō-joshi}} ''na'' or ''naa'' is used very often in Kansai dialect instead of ''ne'' or ''nee'' in standard Japanese. In standard Japanese, ''naa'' is considered rough masculine style in some context, but in Kansai dialect ''naa'' is used by both men and women in many familiar situations. It is not only used as an interjectory particle (as emphasis for the imperative form, expression and admiration, and address to listeners, for example), and the meaning varies depending on context and voice intonation, so much so that ''naa'' has been called the world's third most difficult word to translate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3830521.stm|title=Congo word 'most untranslatable'|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=June 22, 2004|access-date=September 19, 2011}}</ref> Besides ''naa'' and ''nee'', ''noo'' is also used in some areas, but ''noo'' is usually considered too harsh a masculine particle in modern Keihanshin.

''Kara'' and ''node'', the {{nihongo|conjunctive particles|接続助詞|setsuzoku-joshi}} meaning "because," are replaced by ''sakai'' or ''yotte''; ''ni'' is sometimes added to the end of both, and ''sakai'' changes to ''sake'' in some areas. ''Sakai'' was so famous as the characteristic particle of Kansai dialect that a special saying was made out of it: {{nihongo|"''Sakai'' in Osaka and ''Berabō'' in Edo"|大阪さかいに江戸べらぼう|Ōsaka sakai ni Edo berabō}}". However, in recent years, the standard ''kara'' and ''node'' have become dominant.

''Kate'' or ''katte'' is also characteristic particle of Kansai dialect, transformation of ''ka tote''. ''Kate'' has two usages. When ''kate'' is used with conjugative words, mainly in the past form and the negative form, it is the equivalent of the English "even if" or "even though", such as ''Kaze hiita kate, watashi wa ryokō e iku'' ("Even if [I] catch a cold, I will go on the trip"). When ''kate'' is used with nouns, it means something like "even", "too," or "either", such as ''Ore kate shiran'' ("I don't know, either"), and is similar to the particle ''mo'' and ''datte''.

==== Sentence final particles ====
The {{nihongo|[[sentence-final particle]]s|終助詞|shū-joshi}} used in Kansai differ widely from those used in Tokyo. The most prominent to Tokyo speakers is the heavy use of ''wa'' by men. In standard Japanese, it is used exclusively by women and so is said to sound softer. In western Japanese including Kansai dialect, however, it is used equally by both men and women in many different levels of conversation. It is noted that the feminine usage of ''wa'' in Tokyo is pronounced with a rising intonation and the Kansai usage of ''wa'' is pronounced with a falling intonation.

Another difference in sentence final particles that strikes the ear of the Tokyo speaker is the ''nen'' particle such as ''nande ya nen!'', "you gotta be kidding!" or "why/what the hell?!", a stereotype [[Manzai#Boke and tsukkomi|tsukkomi]] phrase in the manzai. It comes from ''no ya'' (particle ''no'' + copula ''ya'', also ''n ya'') and much the same as the standard Japanese ''no da'' (also ''n da''). ''Nen'' has some variation, such as ''neya'' (intermediate form between ''no ya'' and ''nen''), ''ne'' (shortened form), and ''nya'' (softer form of ''neya''). When a copula precedes these particles, ''da'' + ''no da'' changes to ''na no da'' (''na n da'') and ''ya'' + ''no ya'' changes to ''na no ya'' (''na n ya''), but ''ya'' + ''nen'' does not change to ''na nen''. ''No da'' is never used with polite form, but ''no ya'' and ''nen'' can be used with formal form such as ''nande desu nen'', a formal form of ''nande ya nen''. In past tense, ''nen'' changes to ''-ten''; for example, "I love you" would be ''suki ya nen'' or ''sukkya nen'', and "I loved you" would be ''suki yatten.''

In the interrogative sentence, the use of ''nen'' and ''no ya'' is restricted to emphatic questions and involves [[interrogative word]]s. For simple questions, ''(no) ka'' is usually used and ''ka'' is often omitted as well as standard Japanese, but ''no'' is often changed ''n'' or ''non'' (somewhat feminine) in Kansai dialect. In standard Japanese, ''kai'' is generally used as a masculine variation of ''ka'', but in Kansai dialect, ''kai'' is used as an emotional question and is mainly used for rhetorical question rather than simple question and is often used in the forms as ''kaina'' (softer) and ''kaiya'' (harsher). When ''kai'' follows the negative verb ending -''n'', it means strong imperative sentence. In some areas such as Kawachi and Banshu, ''ke'' is used instead of ''ka'', but it is considered a harsh masculine particle in common Kansai dialect.

The emphatic particle ''ze'', heard often from Tokyo men, is rarely heard in Kansai. Instead, the particle ''de'' is used, arising from the replacement of ''z'' with ''d'' in words. However, despite the similarity with ''ze'', the Kansai ''de'' does not carry nearly as heavy or rude a connotation, as it is influenced by the lesser stress on formality and distance in Kansai. In Kyoto, especially feminine speech, ''de'' is sometimes replaced with ''e''. The particle ''zo'' is also replaced to ''do'' by some Kansai speakers, but ''do'' carries a rude masculine impression unlike ''de''.

The emphasis or [[tag question]] particle ''jan ka'' in the casual speech of Kanto changes to ''yan ka'' in Kansai. ''Yan ka'' has some variations, such as a masculine variation ''yan ke'' (in some areas, but ''yan ke'' is also used by women) and a shortened variation ''yan'', just like ''jan'' in Kanto. ''Jan ka'' and ''jan'' are used only in informal speech, but ''yan ka'' and ''yan'' can be used with formal forms like ''sugoi desu yan!'' ("It is great!"). Youngsters often use ''yan naa'', the combination of ''yan'' and ''naa'' for tag question.

== Vocabulary ==
[[File:Osaka dialect signboard in Tenjinbashi.JPG|thumb|300px|A signboard utilizing Osakan words; from top left: ''irau'' "to touch", ''sukatan'' "foolish", ''hotaeru'' "to be noisy", ''kotekote'' "thickly", ''gonta'' "mischievous person", ''chokeru'' "to be silly", ''gera'' "merry drinker", ''yatsushi'' "smart dresser", ''anjō'' "well", ''nannato'' "whatever" and ''ikezu'' "spiteful"]]
In some cases, Kansai dialect uses entirely different words. The verb ''hokasu'' corresponds to standard Japanese ''suteru'' "to throw away", and ''metcha'' corresponds to the standard Japanese slang ''chō'' "very". ''Chō,'' in Kansai dialect, means "a little" and is a contracted form of ''chotto.'' Thus the phrase ''chō matte'' "wait a minute" by a Kansai person sounds strange to a Tokyo person.

Some Japanese words gain entirely different meanings or are used in different ways when used in Kansai dialect. One such usage is of the word ''naosu'' (usually used to mean "correct" or "repair" in the standard language) in the sense of "put away" or "put back." For example, ''kono jitensha naoshite'' means "please put back this bicycle" in Kansai, but many standard speakers are bewildered since in standard Japanese it would mean "please repair this bicycle".

Another widely recognized Kansai-specific usage is of ''aho''. Basically equivalent to the standard ''baka'' "idiot, fool", ''aho'' is both a term of reproach and a term of endearment to the Kansai speaker, somewhat like English ''twit'' or ''silly''. ''Baka'', which is used as "idiot" in most regions, becomes "complete moron" and a stronger insult than ''aho''. Where a Tokyo citizen would almost certainly object to being called ''baka'', being called ''aho'' by a Kansai person is not necessarily much of an insult. Being called ''baka'' by a Kansai speaker is however a much more severe criticism than it would be by a Tokyo speaker. Most Kansai speakers cannot stand being called ''baka'' but don't mind being called ''aho''.

=== Well-known words ===
Here are some words and phrases famous as part of the Kansai dialect:

{| class="wikitable" align="center" cellpadding="7" style="clear:both;"
|-align="center"
!Kansai dialect!!accent!!Standard Japanese!!English!!Note!!Example
|-
|'''[[wikt:明かん|akan]]''' or '''akahen'''
|H-H-H, H-L-L-L
|''dame'', ''ikemasen'', ''shimatta''
|wrong, no good, must, oh no!
|abbreviation of "''[[wikt:埒が明く|rachi ga akanu]]''"; '''akimasen''' or '''akimahen''' (H-H-H-H-H) for polite speech; ''-ta(ra) akan'' means "must not ..."; ''-na akan'' and ''-nto akan'' means "must ...".
|''Tabetara akan.'' = "You must not eat." : ''Tabena/Tabento akan'' = "You must eat."
|-
|'''[[wiktionary:阿呆|aho]]''', '''ahō'''
|L-HL, L-H-L
|''baka''
|silly, idiot, fool
|sometimes used friendly with a joke; this accompanies a stereotype that ''baka'' is considered a much more serious insult in Kansai; '''Ahondara''' (L-L-L-H-L) is strong abusive form; '''Ahokusai''' (L-L-H-L-L) and '''Ahorashii'''(L-L-H-L-L) are adjective form; originally ''ahau'' and said to derive from a Chinese word {{lang-zh|c=阿呆|p=ā dāi|labels=no}} in [[Muromachi period]].<ref>Osamu Matsumoto (1993). {{nihongo|全国アホ・バカ分布考―はるかなる言葉の旅路|Zenkoku Aho Baka Bunpu-kō}}. {{ISBN|4872331168}}</ref>
|''Honma aho ya naa.'' = "You are really silly."
|-
|'''[[wikt:別嬪|beppin]]'''
|H-H-H
|''bijin''
|beautiful woman
|Originally written 別品, meaning a product of exceptional quality; extrapolated to apply to women of exceptional beauty, rewritten as 別嬪. Often appended with ''-san''.
|''Beppin-san ya na.'' = "You are a pretty woman."
|-
|'''charinko''', '''chari'''
|
|''jitensha''
|bicycle
|said to derive either from [[onomatopoeia]] of the bell, or corrupted from ''jajeongeo'', a [[Korean language|Korean]] word for "bicycle" used by [[Zainichi Korean|Osaka-born Koreans]]. Has spread out to most of Japan in recent decades.
|''Eki made aruite ikun?'' ''Uun, chari de iku wa.'' ("Are you walking to the station?" "No, I'm going by bike.")
|-
|'''[[wikt:ちゃう|chau]]'''
|H-H
|''chigau'', ''de wa nai'', ''janai''
|that isn't it, that isn't good, nope, wrong
|[[reduplication]] ''chau chau'' is often used for informal negative phrase
|''Are, chauchau chau?'' ''Chau chau, chauchau chau n chau?'' = "It is a [[Chow Chow]], isn't it?" "No, it isn't a Chow Chow, is it?" (a famous pun with Kansai dialect)
|-
|'''dabo'''
|L-HL
|''baka''
|silly, idiot, fool
|used in Kobe and Banshu; harsher than ''aho''
|
|-
|'''donai'''
|H-H-H
|''donna'', ''dō''
| how ([[demonstrative]])
|'''konai''' means ''konna'' (such, like this); '''sonai''' means ''sonna'' (such, like it); '''anai''' means ''anna'' (such, like that)
|''Donai yatta?'' = "How was it?"
|-
|'''do'''
|
|
|excessively ([[prefix]])
|often used with bad meanings; also used in several dialects and recently standard Japanese
|''do-aho'' = "terribly fool" ''do-kechi'' = "terribly miser"
|-
|'''dotsuku'''
|H-H-H
|''naguru''
|to clobber somebody
|''do'' + ''tsuku'' (突く; prick, push); also ''dozuku''
|''Anta, dotsuku de!'' = "Hey, I'll clobber you!"
|-
|'''donkusai'''
|L-L-H-L-L
|''manuke'', ''nibui''
|stupid, clumsy, inefficient, lazy
|literally "slow-smelling" ({{linktext|鈍}}臭い)
|
|-
|'''ee'''
|L-H
|''yoi'', ''ii''
|good, proper, all right
|used only in Plain form; other conjugations are same as ''yoi'' (Perfective form ''yokatta'' generally does not change ''ekatta''); also used in other western Japan and Tohoku
|''Kakko ee de.'' = "You look cool."
|-
|'''egetsunai'''
|H-H-H-L-L
|''akudoi'', ''iyarashii'', ''rokotsu-na''
|indecent, vicious, obnoxious
|
|''Egetsunai yarikata'' = "Indecent way"
|-
|'''erai'''
|H-L-L
|''erai'', ''taihen''
|great, high-status, terrible, terribly
|the usage as meaning "terrible" and "terribly" is more often in Kansai than in Tokyo; also sometimes used as meaning "tired" as ''shindoi'' in Chubu and western Japan
|''Erai kotcha!'' (< ''erai koto ja'') = "It is a terrible/difficult thing/matter!"
|-
|'''gotsui'''
|H-L-L
|''ikatsui'', ''sugoi''
|rough, huge
|a variation of the adjective form ''gottsu'' is used as "very" or "terribly" like ''metcha''
|''[[Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji|Gottsu ee kanji]]'' = "feelin' real good"
|-
|'''gyōsan'''
|H-L-L-L or L-L-H-L
|''takusan''
|a lot of, many
|also '''yōsan''', may be a mixture of ''gyōsan'' and ''yōke''; also used in other western Japan; {{linktext|仰}}{{linktext|山}} in kanji
|''Gyōsan tabe ya.'' = "Eat heartily."
|-
|'''hannari'''
|H-L-L-L or L-L-H-L
|''hanayaka'', ''jōhin''
|elegant, splendid, graceful
|mainly used in Kyoto
|''Hannari-shita kimono'' = "Elegant kimono"
|-
|'''hiku'''
|H-H
|''shiku''
|to spread on a flat surface (e.g. bedding, butter)
|A result of the palatalization of "s" occurring elsewhere in the dialect.
|''Futon hiitoite ya.'' = "Lay out the futons, will you?"
|-
|'''hokasu'''
|H-H-H
|''suteru''
|to throw away, to dump
|also '''horu''' (H-H). Note particularly that the phrase "''gomi (o) hottoite''" means "throw out the garbage" in Kansai dialect, but "let the garbage be" in standard Japanese.
|''Sore hokashitoite.'' = "Dump it."
|-
|'''honde'''
|H-H-H
|''sorede''
|and so, so that ([[Grammatical conjunction|conjunction]])
|
|''Honde na, kinō na, watashi na...'' = "And, in yesterday, I..."
|-
|'''honnara''', '''hona'''
|H-H-L-L, H-L
|''(sore)dewa'', ''(sore)ja'', ''(sore)nara''
|then, in that case, if that's true (conjunction)
|often used for informal good-by.
|''Hona mata.'' = "Well then."
|-
|'''[[wikt:ほんま|honma]]'''
|L-L-H, H-H-H
|''hontō''
|true, real
|'''honma-mon''', equivalent to Standard ''honmono'', means "genuine thing"; also used in other western Japan; {{linktext|本}}{{linktext|真}} in kanji
|''Sore honma?'' = "Is that true?"
|-
|'''ikezu'''
|L-H-L
|''ijiwaru''
|spiteful, ill-natured
|
|''Ikezu sentoitee na.'' = "Don't be spiteful to me."
|-
|'''itemau''', '''itekomasu'''
|H-H-H-H, H-H-H-H-H
|''yattsukeru'', ''yatchimau''
|to beat, to finish off
|
|''Itemau do, ware!'' = "I'll finish you off!" (typical fighting words)
|-
|'''kamahen''' or '''kamehen'''
|H-L-L-L
|''kamawanai''
|never mind; it doesn't matter
|abbreviation of "''kamawahen''"
|''Kamahen, kamahen.'' = "It doesn't matter: it's OK."
|-
|'''kanawan'''
|H-H-L-L
|''iya da'', ''tamaranai''
|can't stand it; unpleasant; unwelcome
|also '''kanan''' (H-L-L)
|''Kō atsui to kanawan naa.'' = "I can't stand this hot weather."
|-
|'''kashiwa'''
|L-H-L
|''toriniku''
|[[chicken (food)]]
|compared the colour of plumage of chickens to the colour of leaves of the ''[[Quercus dentata|kashiwa]]''; also used in other western Japan and Nagoya
|''Kashiwa hito-kire chōdai.'' = "Give me a cut of chicken."
|-
|'''kattaa shatsu''', '''kattā'''
|H-H-H L-L, H-L-L
|''wai shatsu'' ("Y-shirt")
|[[dress shirt]]
|[[wasei-eigo]]. originally a brand of [[Mizuno Corp.|Mizuno]], a sportswear company in Osaka. ''kattaa'' is a [[pun]] of "cutter" and "''katta''" (won, beat, overcame).
|
|-
|'''kettai-na'''
|H-L-L-L
|''kimyō-na'', ''hen-na'', ''okashi-na'', ''fushigi-na''
|strange
|
|''Kettai-na fuku ya na.'' = "They are strange clothes."
|-
|'''kettakuso warui'''
|H-H-H-H H-L-L
|''imaimashii'', ''haradatashii''
|damned, stupid, irritating
|''kettai'' + ''kuso'' "shit" + ''warui'' "bad"
|
|-
|'''kii warui'''
|H-H H-L-L
|''kanji ga warui'', ''iyana kanji''
|be not in a good feeling
|''kii'' is a lengthened vowel form of ''ki'' ({{linktext|気}}).
|
|-
|'''kosobai''' or '''koshobai'''
|H-H-L-L
|''kusuguttai''
|ticklish
|shortened form of ''kosobayui''; also used in other western Japan
|
|-
|'''maido'''
|L-H-L
|''dōmo''
| commercial greeting
|the original meaning is "Thank you always". {{linktext|毎}}{{linktext|度}} in kanji.
|''Maido, irasshai!'' = "Hi, may I help you?"
|-
|'''makudo'''
|L-H-L
|''makku''
|[[McDonald's]]
|abbreviation of ''makudonarudo'' (Japanese pronunciation of "McDonald's")
|''Makudo iko.'' = "Let's go to McDonald's."
|-
|'''mebachiko'''
|L-H-L-L
|''monomorai''
|[[stye]]
|'''meibo''' (H-L-L) in Kyoto and Shiga.
|
|-
|'''metcha''' or '''messa''' or '''mutcha'''
|L-H
|''totemo'', ''chō''
|very
|mostly used by younger people. also '''bari''' (L-H) in southern Hyogo, adopted from Chugoku dialect.
|''Metcha omoroi mise shitteru de.'' = "I know a really interesting shop."
|-
|'''nanbo'''
|L-L-H
|''ikura'', ''ikutsu''
|how much, no matter how, how old, how many
|transformation of ''nanihodo'' ({{linktext|何}}{{linktext|程}}); also used in other western Japan, Tohoku and Hokkaido.
|''Sore nanbo de kōta n?'' = "How much did you pay for it?"
|-
|'''nukui'''
|H-L-L
|''atatakai'', ''attakai''
|warm
|also used in other western Japan
|
|-
|'''ochokuru'''
|H-H-H-H
|''karakau'', ''chakasu''
|to make fun of, to tease
|
|''Ore ochokuru no mo eekagen ni see!'' = "That's enough to tease me!"
|-
|'''okan''', '''oton'''
|L-H-L, L-H-L
|''okaasan'', ''otōsan''
|mother, father
|very casual form
|
|-
|'''[[wiktionary:おおきに|ōkini]]'''
|H-L-H-L or L-L-H-L
|''arigatō''
|thanks
|abbreviation of "''ōki ni arigatō''" (thank you very much, ''ōki ni'' means "very much"); of course, ''arigatō'' is also used; sometimes, it is used ironically to mean "No thank you"; also '''ōkeni'''
|''Maido ōkini!'' = "Thanks always!"
|-
|'''otchan'''
|H-H-H
|''ojisan''
|uncle, older man
|a familiar term of address for a middle-aged man; also used as a first personal pronoun; the antonym "aunt, older woman" is ''obachan'' (also used in standard Japanese); also '''ossan''' and '''obahan''', but ruder than ''otchan'' and ''obachan'' 
|''Otchan, takoyaki futatsu!'' ''Aiyo!'' = (conversation with a takoyaki stall man) "Two takoyaki please, mister!" "All right!"
|-
|'''shaanai'''
|H-H-L-L
|''shōganai'', ''shikata ga nai''
|it can't be helped
|also used some other dialects
|
|-
|'''shibaku'''
|H-H-H
|''naguru'', ''tataku''
|to beat somebody (with hands or rods)
|sometimes used as a vulgar word meaning "to go" or "to eat" such as ''Chaa shibakehen?'' "Why don't you go to cafe?"
|''Shibaitaro ka!'' ( < ''shibaite yarō ka'') = "Do you want me to give you a beating?"
|-
|'''shindoi'''
|L-L-H-L
|''tsukareru'', ''tsurai'', ''kurushii''
|tired, exhausted
|change from ''shinrō'' ({{linktext|辛労}}; hardship); ''shindoi'' has come to be used throughout Japan in recent years.
|''Aa shindo.'' = "Ah, I'm tired."
|-
|'''shōmonai'''
|L-L-H-L-L
|''tsumaranai'', ''omoshirokunai'', ''kudaranai''
|dull, unimportant, uninteresting
|change from ''shiyō mo nai'' (仕様も無い, means "There isn't anything"); also used some other dialects
|
|-
|'''sunmasen''' or '''sunmahen'''
|L-L-L-L-H
|''sumimasen'', ''gomen nasai''
|I'm sorry, excuse me, thanks
|'''suman''' (H-L-L) in casual speech; also '''kan'nin''' ({{linktext|堪}}{{linktext|忍}}, L-L-H-L) for informal apology instead of standard ''kanben'' ({{linktext|勘弁}})
|''Erai sunmahen.'' = "I'm so sorry."
|-
|'''[[wiktionary:炊く|taku]]'''
|H-H
|''niru''
|to boil, to simmer
|in standard Japanese, ''taku'' is used only for cooking rice; also used in other western Japan
|''Daikon yō taketa.'' = "The [[daikon]] was boiled well."
|-
|'''waya'''
|H-L
|''mucha-kucha'', ''dainashi'', ''dame''
|going for nothing, fruitless
|also used in other western Japan, Nagoya and Hokkaido
|''Sappari waya ya wa.'' = "It's no good at all."
|-
|'''yaru'''
|H-H
|''yaru'', ''ageru''
|to give (informal)
|used more widely than in standard Japanese towards equals as well as inferiors; when used as helper auxiliaries, -''te yaru'' usually shortened -''taru''
|
|-
|'''yome'''
|H-H
|''tsuma'', ''okusan'', ''kamisan'', ''kanai''
|wife
|originally means "bride" and "daughter-in-law" in standard, but an additional meaning "wife" is spread from Kansai; often used as ''yome-san'' or ''yome-han''
|''anta toko no yome-han'' = "your wife"
|-
|'''yōke'''
|H-L-L
|''takusan''
|a lot of, many
|change from ''yokei'' (余計, means "extra, too many"); a synonymous with ''gyōsan''
|
|}

=== Pronouns and honorifics ===
{{See also|Japanese pronouns|Japanese honorifics}}
Standard first-person pronouns such as ''watashi'', ''boku'' and ''ore'' are also generally used in Kansai, but there are some local pronoun words. ''Watashi'' has many variations: ''watai'', ''wate'' (both gender), ''ate'' (somewhat feminine), and ''wai'' (masculine, casual). These variations are now archaic, but are still widely used in fictitious creations to represent stereotypical Kansai speakers especially ''wate'' and ''wai''. Elderly Kansai men frequently use ''washi'' as well as other western Japan. ''Uchi'' is famous for the typical feminine first-person pronoun of Kansai dialect and it is still popular among Kansai girls.

In Kansai, ''omae'' and ''anta'' are often used for the informal second-person pronoun. ''Anata'' is hardly used. Traditional local second-person pronouns include ''omahan'' (''omae'' + ''-han''), ''anta-han'' and ''ansan'' (both are ''anta'' + ''-san'', but ''anta-han'' is more polite). An archaic first-person pronoun, ''ware'', is used as a hostile and impolite second-person pronoun in Kansai. ''Jibun'' ({{linktext|自分}}) is a Japanese word meaning "oneself" and sometimes "I", but it has an additional usage in Kansai as a casual second-person pronoun.

In traditional Kansai dialect, the honorific suffix ''-san'' is sometimes pronounced -''han'' when -''san'' follows ''a'', ''e'' and ''o''; for example, ''okaasan'' ("mother") becomes ''okaahan'', and ''Satō-san'' ("Mr. Satō") becomes ''Satō-han''. It is also the characteristic of Kansai usage of honorific suffixes that they can be used for some familiar inanimate objects as well, especially in Kyoto. In standard Japanese, the usage is usually considered childish, but in Kansai, ''o-[[Sweet potato|imo]]-san'', ''o-[[Bean|mame]]-san'' and ''[[Candy|ame]]-chan'' are often heard not only in children's speech but also in adults' speech. The suffix ''-san'' is also added to some familiar greeting phrases; for example, ''ohayō-san'' ("good morning") and ''omedetō-san'' ("congratulations").

== Regional differences ==
[[File:Kinki hougen.png|thumb|300px|Mitsuo Okumura's division theory in 1960s]]
Since Kansai dialect is actually a group of related dialects, not all share the same vocabulary, pronunciation, or grammatical features. Each dialect has its own specific features discussed individually here.

* A division theory of Kansai dialects proposed by Minoru Umegaki in 1962<ref name="Umegaki 1962"/>
** South
*** Outer - southern [[Yamato Province]]
*** Inner - [[Shima Province]], southern [[Ise Province]], [[Kii Province]]
** Central
*** East (areas under the influence of Kyoto dialect) - [[Wakasa Province]] including [[Tsuruga]], [[Ōmi Province]], northern Ise Province, [[Iga Province]], [[Yamashiro Province]], Kuchi-Tanba (southeastern [[Tanba Province]])
*** West (areas under the influence of Osaka dialect) - northern Yamato Province, [[Settsu Province]], [[Kawachi Province]], [[Izumi Province]], [[Harima Province]], [[Awaji Province]]
** North
*** Inner - Oku-Tanba (northwestern Tanba Province), Kuchi-Tango (eastern [[Tango Province]])
*** Outer - Oku-Tango (western Tango Province), [[Tajima Province]]
* A division theory of Kansai dialects proposed by Mitsuo Okumura in 1968<ref name="Okumura 1968"/>
** Central, what is called ''Kansai-ben'' - Yamashiro Province, Settsu Province, Kawachi Province, Izumi Province, northern Yamato Province, southern Tanba Province, most of Ōmi Province, Iga Province
** Outer
*** East - most of Ise Province, part of eastern Ōmi Province
*** West - Harima Province, western Tanba Province
*** South - southern Ise Province, Shima Province, Kii Province, Awaji Province
*** North - northeastern Ōmi Province, northern Tanba Province, southern Tango Province

=== Osaka ===
'''Osaka-ben''' ([[:ja:大阪弁|大阪弁]]) is often identified with Kansai dialect by most Japanese, but some of the terms considered to be characteristic of Kansai dialect are actually restricted to Osaka and its environs. Perhaps the most famous is the term ''mōkarimakka?'', roughly translated as "how is business?", and derived from the verb ''mōkaru'' (儲かる), "to be profitable, to yield a profit". This is supposedly said as a greeting from one Osakan to another, and the appropriate answer is another Osaka phrase, ''maa, bochi bochi denna'' "well, so-so, y'know".

The idea behind ''mōkarimakka'' is that Osaka was historically the center of the merchant culture. The phrase developed among low-class shopkeepers and can be used today to greet a business proprietor in a friendly and familiar way but is not a universal greeting. The latter phrase is also specific to Osaka, in particular the term ''bochi bochi'' (L-L-H-L). This means essentially "so-so": getting better little by little or not getting any worse. Unlike ''mōkarimakka'', ''bochi bochi'' is used in many situations to indicate gradual improvement or lack of negative change. Also, ''bochi bochi'' (H-L-L-L) can be used in place of the standard Japanese ''soro soro'', for instance ''bochi bochi iko ka'' "it is about time to be going".<ref>Kazuo Fudano (2006). {{nihongo||大阪弁「ほんまもん」講座|Ōsaka "Honmamon" Kōza}}. Tokyo: Shinchosha</ref>

In the Edo period, '''Senba-kotoba''' (船場言葉), a social dialect of the wealthy merchants in the [[central business district]] of Osaka, was considered the standard Osaka-ben. It was characterized by the polite speech based on Kyoto-ben and the subtle differences depending on the business type, class, post etc. It was handed down in [[Meiji period|Meiji]], [[Taishō period|Taishō]] and [[Shōwa period|Shōwa]] periods with some changes, but after the [[Pacific War]], Senba-kotoba became nearly an obsolete dialect due to the modernization of business practices. Senba-kotoba was famous for a polite copula ''gowasu'' or ''goasu'' instead of common Osakan copula ''omasu'' and characteristic forms for shopkeeper family mentioned below.

{{chart top|An example of forms of address for shopkeeper family in Senba<ref>Isamu Maeda (1977). {{nihongo||大阪弁|Ōsaka-ben}}. Tokyo: Asahi Shimbun</ref>}}
{{chart/start}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | |Gm|~|y|~|Gf| |Gm=''oesan, oehan'' (keeper's mother) |Gf=''oyadansan'' (keeper's father)}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | |Mo|y|Fa|Mo=''goryonsan'' (keeper's wife)<br/>''inkyo no oehan'' (after retiring)<br/>''okohittsan'' (widow)|Fa=''dansan, danahan'' (shopkeeper)<br/>''goinkyohan'' (after retiring)}}
{{chart| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | }}
{{chart| | | | | | |Da| | | | | | | | | | | |So|~|SoWi|Da=''itosan, itohan, tōhan'' (keeper's daughter)|So=''bonsan, bonbon'' (keeper's son)<br/>''wakadansan'' (keeper's heir)|SoWi=''wakagoryonsan'' (son's wife)}}
{{chart| |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.}}
{{chart|Da1| |Da2| |Da3| |Da4| |So1| |So2| |So3|Da1=''aneitosan'' (eldest daughter)|Da2=''nakaitosan'' (2nd daughter)|Da3=''koitosan, koisan'' (3rd　daughter)|Da4=''koikoisan'' (youngest daughter)|So1=''anibonsan'' (eldest son)|So2=''nakabonsan'' (2nd son)|So3=''kobonsan'' (youngest son)}}
{{chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

Southern branches of Osaka-ben, such as '''[[Izumi Province|Senshū]]-ben''' ([[:ja:泉州弁|泉州弁]]) and '''[[Kawachi Province|Kawachi]]-ben''' ([[:ja:河内弁|河内弁]]), are famous for their harsh locution, characterized by trilled "r", the question particle ''ke'', and the second person ''ware''. The farther south in Osaka one goes, the cruder the language is considered to be, with the local Senshū-ben of [[Kishiwada, Osaka|Kishiwada]] said to represent the peak of harshness.<ref>Riichi Nakaba (2005). ''Kishiwada Shonen Gurentai''. Kodansha. {{ISBN|4-06-275074-0}}</ref>

=== Kyoto ===
[[File:Kyoto dialect banner in Demachi.JPG|thumbnail|A banner in Kyoto dialect. The advertisement of shopping street, ''Maido okoshiyasu. Kyō mo ē mon arimasu e'' translates as "Welcome. We have nice goods every day"]]
'''Kyōto-ben''' (京都弁) or '''Kyō-kotoba''' ([[:ja:京言葉|京言葉]]) is characterized by development of politeness and indirectness expressions. Kyoto-ben is often regarded as elegant and feminine dialect because of its characters and the image of [[Gion]]'s ''[[geisha]]'' (''geiko-han'' and ''[[Maiko (geiko)|maiko]]-han'' in Kyoto-ben), the most conspicuous speakers of traditional Kyoto-ben.<ref name="Sato 2009">Ryoichi Sato ed (2009). {{nihongo|都道府県別全国方言辞典|Todōfuken-betsu Zenkoku Hōgen Jiten}}.</ref> Kyoto-ben is divided into the court dialect called ''Gosho kotoba'' (御所言葉) and the citizens dialect called ''Machikata kotoba'' (町方言葉). The former was spoken by court noble before moving the Emperor to Tokyo, and some phrases inherit at a few [[monzeki]]. The latter has subtle difference at each social class such as old merchant families at [[Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto|Nakagyo]], craftsmen at [[Nishijin]] and [[geiko]] at [[Hanamachi]] ([[Gion]], [[Miyagawa-chō]] etc.)

Kyoto-ben was the ''de facto'' standard Japanese from 794 until the 18th century and some Kyoto people are still proud of their accent; they get angry when Tokyo people treat Kyoto-ben as a provincial accent.<ref name="Sato 2009"/> However, traditional Kyoto-ben is gradually declining except in the world of ''geisha'', which prizes the inheritance of traditional Kyoto customs. For example, a famous Kyoto copula ''dosu'', instead of standard ''desu'', is used by a few elders and ''geisha'' now.<ref>Nobusuke Kishie and Fumiko Inoue (1997). {{nihongo|京都市方言の動態|Kyōto-shi Hōgen no Dōtai}}</ref>

The verb inflection ''-haru'' is an essential part of casual speech in modern Kyoto. In Osaka and its environs, ''-haru'' has a certain level of politeness above the base (informal) form of the verb, putting it somewhere between the informal and the more polite ''-masu'' conjugations. However, in Kyoto, its position is much closer to the informal than it is to the polite mood, owing to its widespread use. Kyoto people, especially elderly women, often use -''haru'' for their family and even for animals and weather.<ref>Kayoko Tsuji (2009). {{nihongo|「ハル」敬語考 京都語の社会言語史|Haru Keigo-kō Kyōto-go no Shakaigengo-shi}}. {{ISBN|978-4-89476-416-3}}。</ref>

'''Tango-ben''' ([[:ja:丹後弁|丹後弁]]) spoken in northernmost Kyoto Prefecture, is too different to be regarded as Kansai dialect and usually included in Chūgoku dialect. For example, the copula ''da'', the Tokyo-type accent, the honorific verb ending -''naru'' instead of -''haru'' and the peculiarly diphthong {{IPA|[æː]}} such as {{IPA|[akæː]}} for ''akai'' "red".

=== Hyogo ===

[[Hyōgo Prefecture]] is the largest prefecture in Kansai, and there are some different dialects in the prefecture. As mentioned above, '''Tajima-ben''' ([[:ja:但馬弁|但馬弁]]) spoken in northern Hyōgo, former [[Tajima Province]], is included in the [[Chūgoku dialect]] group alongside Tango-ben of northern Kyōto. The ancient vowel sequence /au/ changed to {{IPA|[oː]}} in many Japanese dialects, but in the Tajima, [[Tottori Prefecture|Tottori]] and [[Izumo Province|Izumo]] dialects, /au/ changed into {{IPA|[aː]}}. Accordingly, the Kansai word ''ahō'' "idiot" is pronounced ''ahaa'' in Tajima-ben.

The dialect spoken in southwestern Hyōgo, former [[Harima Province]] alias Banshū, is called '''[[Banshū dialect|Banshū-ben]]'''. As well as Chūgoku dialect, it has the discrimination of aspect, ''-yoru'' in progressive and ''-toru'' in perfect. Banshū-ben is notable for transformation of ''-yoru'' and ''-toru'' into ''-yō'' and ''-tō'', sometimes ''-yon'' and ''-ton''. Another feature is the honorific copula ''-te ya'', common in [[Tanba Province|Tanba]], [[Maizuru, Kyoto|Maizuru]] and [[San'yō region|San'yō]] dialects. In addition, Banshū-ben is famous for an emphatic final particle ''doi'' or ''doiya'' and a question particle ''ke'' or ''ko'', but they often sound violent to other Kansai speakers, as well as Kawachi-ben. '''Kōbe-ben''' ([[:ja:神戸弁|神戸弁]]) spoken in [[Kobe]], the largest city of Hyogo, is the intermediate dialect between Banshū-ben and Osaka-ben and is well known for conjugating ''-yō'' and ''-tō'' as well as Banshū-ben.

'''[[Awaji dialect|Awaji-ben]]''' ([[:ja:淡路弁|淡路弁]]) spoken in [[Awaji Island]], is different from Banshū/Kōbe-ben and mixed with dialects of Osaka, Wakayama and [[Tokushima Prefecture]]s due to the intersecting location of sea routes in the [[Seto Inland Sea]] and the [[Tokushima Domain]] rule in Edo period.

=== Mie ===
The dialect in [[Mie Prefecture]], sometimes called '''Mie-ben''' ([[:ja:三重弁|三重弁]]), is made up of '''[[Ise Province|Ise]]-ben''' ([[:ja:伊勢弁|伊勢弁]]) spoken in mid-northern Mie, '''[[Shima Province|Shima]]-ben''' ([[:ja:志摩弁|志摩弁]]) spoken in southeastern Mie and '''[[Iga Province|Iga]]-ben''' ([[:ja:伊賀弁|伊賀弁]]) spoken in western Mie. Ise-ben is famous for a sentence final particle ''ni'' as well as ''de''. Shima-ben is close to Ise-ben, but its vocabulary includes many archaic words. Iga-ben has a unique request expression ''-te daako'' instead of standard ''-te kudasai''.

They use the normal Kansai accent and basic grammar, but some of the vocabulary is common to the [[Nagoya dialect]]. For example, instead of -''te haru'' (respectful suffix), they have the Nagoya-style -''te mieru''. Conjunctive particles ''de'' and ''monde'' "because" is widely used instead of ''sakai'' and ''yotte''. The similarity to Nagoya-ben becomes more pronounced in the northernmost parts of the prefecture; the dialect of [[Nagashima, Mie|Nagashima]] and [[Kisosaki, Mie|Kisosaki]], for instance, could be considered far closer to Nagoya-ben than to Ise-ben.

In and around [[Ise, Mie|Ise city]], some variations on typical Kansai vocabulary can be found, mostly used by older residents. For instance, the typical expression ''ōkini'' is sometimes pronounced ''ōkina'' in Ise. Near the [[Isuzu River]] and [[Ise Grand Shrine|Naikū shrine]], some old men use the first-person pronoun ''otai''.

=== Wakayama ===
'''[[Kishū dialect|Kishū-ben]]''' ([[:ja:紀州弁|紀州弁]]) or '''Wakayama-ben''' (和歌山弁), the dialect in old province [[Kii Province]], present-day [[Wakayama Prefecture]] and southern parts of Mie Prefecture, is fairly different from common Kansai dialect and comprises many regional variants. It is famous for heavy confusion of ''z'' and ''d'', especially on the southern coast. The ichidan verb negative form ''-n'' often changes ''-ran'' in Wakayama such as ''taberan'' instead of ''taben'' ("not eat"); ''-hen'' also changes ''-yan'' in Wakayama, Mie and Nara such as ''tabeyan'' instead of ''tabehen''. Wakayama-ben has specific perticles. ''Yō'' is often used as sentence final particle. ''Ra'' follows the volitional conjugation of verbs as ''iko ra yō!'' ("Let's go!"). ''Noshi'' is used as soft sentence final particle. ''Yashite'' is used as tag question. Local words are ''akana'' instead of ''akan'', ''omoshai'' instead of ''omoroi'', ''aga'' "oneself", ''teki'' "you", ''tsuremote'' "together" and so on. Wakayama people hardly ever use keigo, which is rather unusual for dialects in Kansai.

=== Shiga ===
[[Shiga Prefecture]] is the eastern neighbor of Kyoto, so its dialect, sometimes called '''Shiga-ben''' (滋賀弁) or '''Ōmi-ben''' ([[:ja:近江弁|近江弁]]) or '''Gōshū-ben''' (江州弁), is similar in many ways to Kyoto-ben. For example, Shiga people also frequently use ''-haru'', though some people tend to pronounce ''-aru'' and ''-te yaaru'' instead of ''-haru'' and ''-te yaharu''. Some elderly Shiga people also use ''-raru'' as a casual honorific form. The demonstrative pronoun ''so-'' often changes to ''ho-''; for example, ''so ya'' becomes ''ho ya'' and ''sore'' (that) becomes ''hore''. In [[Nagahama, Shiga|Nagahama]], people use the friendly-sounding auxiliary verb ''-ansu'' and ''-te yansu''. Nagahama and [[Hikone, Shiga|Hikone]] dialects has a unique final particle ''hon'' as well as ''de''.

=== Nara ===
The dialect in [[Nara Prefecture]] is divided into northern including [[Nara, Nara|Nara city]] and southern including [[Totsukawa, Nara|Totsukawa]]. The northern dialect, sometimes called '''Nara-ben''' ([[:ja:奈良弁|奈良弁]]) or '''Yamato-ben''' (大和弁), has a few particularities such as an interjectory particle ''mii'' as well as ''naa'', but the similarity with Osaka-ben increases year by year because of the economic dependency to Osaka. On the other hand, southern Nara prefecture is a [[language island]] because of its geographic isolation with mountains. [[Okuyoshino dialect|The southern dialect]] uses Tokyo type accent, has the discrimination of grammatical aspect, and does not show a tendency to lengthen vowels at the end of monomoraic nouns.

== Example ==
An example of Kyoto women's conversation recorded in 1964: 
[[File:Kyoto women conversation in 1964.ogg]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Original Kyoto speech !! Standard Japanese !! English
|-
| Daiichi, anta kyoo nande? Monossugo nagai koto mattetan e. || Daiichi, anata kyoo nande? Monosugoku nagai koto matteita no yo. || In the first place, today you... what happened? I've been waiting for a very long time.
|-
| Doko de? || Doko de?|| Where?
|-
| Miyako hoteru no ue de. Ano, robii de. || Miyako hoteru no ue de. Ano, robii de. || At the top of the Miyako hotel. Uh, in the lobby.
|-
| Iya ano, denwa shitan ya, honde uchi, goji kitchiri ni. || Iya ano, denwa shitan da, sorede watashi, goji kitchiri ni. || Well, I called, just at 5 o'clock.
|-
| Okashii. Okashii na. || Okashii. Okashii na. || That's strange. Isn't that strange?
|-
| Hona tsuujihinkattan ya. || Jaa tsuujinakattan da. || And I couldn't get through.
|-
| Monosugo konsen shiteta yaro. || Monosugoku konsen shiteita desho. || The lines must have gotten crossed.
|-
| Aa soo ya. || Aa soo da yo. || Yes.
|-
| Nande yaro, are? || Nande daroo, are? || I wonder why?
|-
| Shiran. Asoko denwadai harootaharahen no chaunka te yuutetan e. Ookii shi. || Shiranai. Asoko denwadai o haratteinain janainoka tte itteita no yo. Ookii shi. || I don't know. "Maybe they haven't paid for the phone," I said. Because it's a big facility.
|-
| Soo ya. Mattemo mattemo anta kiihin shi, moo wasureteru shi, moo yoppodo denwa shiyo kana omotan ya kedo, moo chotto mattemiyo omotara yobidasahattan. || Soo da yo. Mattemo mattemo anata konai shi, moo wasureteiru shi, moo yoppodo denwa shiyoo kana to omottan da kedo, moo chotto mattemiyoo to omottara yobidashita no. || Yes. Even after I waited for a long time, you didn't come, so I thought you'd forgotten, so I thought about calling you, but just when I'd decided to wait a little longer the staff called my name.
|-
| Aa soo ka. Atashi. Are nihenme? Anta no denwa kiitan. || Aa soo. Watashi. Are nidome? Anata ga denwa o kiita no. || Is that so. I... Was it the second time when you heard about the phone?
|-
| Honma... Atashi yobidasaren no daikirai ya. || Honto.... Watashi yobidasareru no daikirai da. || Really, I hate having my name called out.
|-
| Kan'nin e. || Gomen ne. || Sorry.
|-
| Kakkowarui yaro. || Kakkowarui desho. || It's awkward, right?
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Japan|Languages}}

=== Kansai dialect in Japanese culture ===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bunraku]] - a traditional puppet theatre played in Osaka dialect during the Edo period
* [[Kabuki]] - Kamigata style kabuki is played in Kansai dialect
* [[Rakugo]] - Kamigata style rakugo is played in Kansai dialect
* [[Mizuna]] - ''mizuna'' is originally a Kansai word for Kanto word ''kyōna''
* [[Shichimi]] - ''shichimi'' is originally a Kansai word for Kanto word ''nanairo''
* [[Tenkasu]] - ''tenkasu'' is originally a Kansai word for Kanto word ''agedama''
* [[Hamachi (fish)|Hamachi]] - ''hamachi'' is originally a Kansai word for Kanto word ''inada''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sushiencyclopedia.com/sushi_fish/yellowtail.html|title=Yellowtail - Sushi Fish|publisher=Sushiencyclopedia|access-date=March 14, 2016}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

=== Related dialects ===
* [[Hokuriku dialect]]
* [[Shikoku dialect]]
* [[Mino dialect]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
For non-Japanese speakers, learning environment of Kansai dialect is richer than other dialects.
* Palter, DC and Slotsve, Kaoru Horiuchi (1995). ''Colloquial Kansai Japanese: The Dialects and Culture of the Kansai Region''. Boston: Charles E. Tuttle Publishing. {{ISBN|0-8048-3723-6}}.
** {{Google books|lAOok_cfZC8C|Colloquial Kansai Japanese}}
** {{Google books|z0nRi62_iIwC|Kinki Japanese}}
* Tse, Peter (1993). ''Kansai Japanese: The language of Osaka, Kyoto, and western Japan''. Boston: Charles E. Tuttle Publishing. {{ISBN|0-8048-1868-1}}.
** {{Google books|LdeyQyS6IAQC|Kansai Japanese}}
* Takahashi, Hiroshi and Kyoko (1995). ''How to speak Osaka Dialect''. Kobe: Taiseido Shobo Co. Ltd. {{ISBN|978-4-88463-076-8}}
* Minoru Umegaki (Ed.) (1962). {{nihongo|近畿方言の総合的研究||Kinki hōgen no sōgōteki kenkyū}}. Tokyo: Sanseido.
* Isamu Maeda (1965). {{nihongo|上方語源辞典||Kamigata gogen jiten}}. Tokyo: Tokyodo Publishing.
* Kiichi Iitoyo, Sukezumi Hino, Ryōichi Satō (Ed.) (1982). {{nihongo|講座方言学7 -近畿地方の方言-||Kōza hōgengaku 7 -Kinki chihō no hōgen-}}. Tokyo: Kokushokankōkai
* Shinji Sanada, Makiko Okamoto, Yoko Ujihara (2006). {{nihongo|聞いておぼえる関西(大阪)弁入門||Kiite oboeru Kansai Ōsaka-ben nyūmon}}. Tokyo: Hituzi Syobo Publishing. {{ISBN|978-4-89476-296-1}}.

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary|Category:Kansai Japanese}}
{{Commons category|Kansai dialects}}
* [http://www.kansaiben.com/ Kansai Dialect Self-study Site for Japanese Language Learner]
* [https://sites.google.com/view/kvjcorpus The Corpus of Kansai Vernacular Japanese]
* [http://www.nihongoresources.com/language/dialects/kansaiben.html The Kansai and Osaka dialects] - nihongoresources.com
* [http://thejapanesepage.com/culture/kansai_ben Kansai Ben] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220041043/https://www.thejapanesepage.com/culture/kansai_ben/ |date=2019-12-20 }} - TheJapanesePage.com
* [http://www.eastudies.org/guide_kansaiben.html Kansai Japanese Guide] - Kansai-ben texts and videos made by [[Ritsumeikan University]] students
* [http://hougen.u-biq.org/osakaben.html Osaka-ben Study Website], [http://hougen.u-biq.org/kyotoben.html Kyoto-ben Study Website] - U-biq
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141106133018/http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/english/osaka_dialect/index.html A Course in Osaka-ben] - Osaka city
{{Japanese language}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kansai Dialect}}
[[Category:Japanese dialects]]
[[Category:Kansai region]]
[[Category:Culture of the Kinki region]]