Learn Japanese dialects with KitKat!
Mrs Overoften uncovered this KitKat in a local shop, and knowing I have a passing interest in these matters, brought it home.
This KitKat gives you a vocabulary lesson in various ben (dialects) around Kyushu.
For example, starting in the north, you can see that those folks in Fukuoka say すいとう for 好きだ (suki da), which will translate as anything from “I like it” to “I love you”.
Going west to Saga-ken you see that locals say がばい (gabai) for とても or 非常に, meaning ‘very’.
In Nagasaki-ken やぐらしか (yagurashika) means うっとうしい (too much). Over in Oita-ken, they say どおくる (dookuru) for おちょくる (ochokuru), which is to make fun of someone.
Round these parts, Kumamoto-ken, もっこす means 頑固者 or わがまま (stubborn, obstinate).
Over in Miyazaki-ken, よだきい means 面倒くさい (too much trouble, can’t be bothered). Meanwhile people in Kagoshima-ken are said to say ぼっけもん for こわいもの知らず (brave, but closer to reckless).
And now with this vocabulary lesson firmly implanted in your memory you can sit back and reward yourself with a cup of coffee, and a KitKat. (I am not affiliated to Nestlé but will accept gifts from them should anyone from HQ be reading this.)
I can’t really think many parallels in the US with the differences between regional dialects in Japan. Only thing I can think of is the deep South with it’s “yalls” and “howdys”. Although, those are more contractions for “you all” and “how do you do” I presume.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:18 pmMy first time in Japan my Osakan hosts told me to say “nanbo” instead of “ikura”. Synonyms suck for new language learners =P.