Kansai dialect quiz roundup: origins and example sentences included!

on the way (there)

Written in kanji as 「行きしな」 (ikishina), this word isn’t well understood outside the Kansai region. The element 「しな」 carries the meaning of “while doing X,” “on the occasion of X,” or “in the course of X,” so 「帰りしな」 is also commonly used to mean “on the way back.” Example sentence: “I’ll pick up a drink on the way there.”

Parking lot

It’s said that two-thirds of all properties named “motor pool” in Japan are in Osaka, that’s how common the term is there. Originally, after the war, places where military vehicles were kept were called motor pools. While in Tokyo many such sites were redeveloped with buildings, in Osaka many remained in use as parking lots. That’s why in the Kansai region the term “motor pool” took root with the meaning “parking lot.” Example: (sign) “Motor Pool — 1,800 yen per day.”

stye

It refers to a stye—an inflammation on the eyelid caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Its etymology isn’t clear, but it seems to be a term used only in the Kansai region. In other regions, a stye is called by various names depending on the area, such as “memorai,” “menbo,” “baka,” or “ohimesan,” in addition to “monomorai.” Example sentence: “I’ve got a stye and it hurts.”

Brand new

In Kansai, new things are called “sara,” and “sarapin” likewise refers to brand-new items. “Sara” is written with the character for “renewed” (更) and conveys the sense of “completely new.” Also, just as a roll of ones is called “pinzoro,” “pin” represents the number 1. So “sarapin” means “something new that hasn’t been used even once.” Example sentence: “Yappa sarapin no sheets wa kimochi ee na!!” (Man, brand-new sheets feel great!!)

short-tempered person

“Iratchi” refers to someone who is quick-tempered or impatient and easily irritated. It seems to derive from the verb “iratsu” (to be irritated). Example sentence: “My dad is super irritable/short-tempered.”

to touch

“Irau” means “to touch” or “to fiddle with.” Beyond simply touching, saying “kami o irau” (to irau one’s hair) can also refer to things like dyeing or getting a perm. Example sentence: “Don’t pick at your scab!!”

dead end

At first glance, some people might have misunderstood it to mean “to punch,” perhaps because it evokes the image of “socking” someone. In reality, it means “dead end” and comes from the idea of “running straight into” something. It was originally used mainly in Kyoto and is now used as part of the Kansai dialect. Example sentence: “That shop is there if you turn right at the dead end.”