Let's Discover the Charm of Kansai Dialect! A Kansai Dialect Quiz for Seniors

plate

In the Kansai region, people use the word 'sara' to mean something new. They might say, 'Wearing brand-new clothes really lifts your mood.' The word 'sara' somehow gives a fresh, new feeling, doesn’t it?

goosebumps

Goose bumps pop up the moment you see something gross or when you’re cold, right? Some people even find it unpleasant to look at on themselves. In the Kansai region, goose bumps are called “sabuibo.”

Sit down

In Kansai, when speaking to small children, people say “occhin shite” when they want them to sit down. It’s such a cute way of saying it that kids might just feel like sitting down without thinking.

No good

Generally, when you turn something down, you say it’s no good. In Kansai dialect, when you refuse an invitation, you say, “Akan wa~.” People also use it for unlucky days, like, “Today’s just an akan day.”

It can't be helped.

Saying “shikata ga nai” can sound a bit blunt, right? It might be better used when offering some words of comfort to someone who’s feeling down after a setback—like, “When you’re tired, it can’t be helped.”

stye

A stye is something you tend to get when your eyes are tired or weakened. In the Kansai region, it’s called “mebachiko.” Since some people’s eyes swell up quite a bit, that might be why it’s called mebachiko.

painful; distressing; heartrending; unbearable (Kansai/older dialectal term)

The Kansai dialect includes the word “zutsunai,” but its nuance seems to vary depending on the area. It’s apparently not used much in Osaka, and in Nara Prefecture it doesn’t mean “painful” but rather “feeling sick.”