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The dialects (方言, hōgen) of the Japanese language fall into two primary clades, Eastern (including modern capital Tokyo) and Western (including old capital Kyoto), with the dialects of Kyushu and Hachijō Island often distinguished as additional branches, the latter perhaps the most divergent of all.
- Hakata Ben. The Hakata dialect (博多弁/はかたべん) is spoken in and around Fukuoka city. It is sometimes called 福岡弁 (ふくおかべん) due to its increased popularity as the typical dialect of Fukuoka and its suburbs.
- Osaka Ben. The Osaka dialect (大阪弁/おおさかべん), more commonly known as part of the Kansai dialects (関西弁/かんさいべん), is spoken in the Kansai region. In this area, almost everyone is speaking a dialect.
- Hiroshima Ben. Back in 1974, there was a movie called “The Yakuza” (Kudos if you know it). This movie used the dialect native to the Chugoku region. Ever since, the local dialect is commonly associated with the Japanese mafia, which is unfair, I know.
- Kyoto Ben. Part of the Kansai collection of dialects (関西弁/かんさいべん), Kyoto Ben (京都弁/きょうとべん) along with the Osaka Ben (大阪弁/おおさかべん), are called the Kamigata dialect (上方言葉/かみがたことば, 上方語/かみがたご).
Japanese dialects have three broad regions: The eastern, western, and kyuushuu (southern) areas. Within each area there can be similar structures and intonations. However, there are also smaller sub-dialects that each have their own unique characteristics and words.
Learn the differences between standard Japanese and the major regional dialects spoken in Japan. Discover the history, features, and examples of the Tokyo and Osaka-Kyoto dialects.
Apr 27, 2023 · Learn about the differences and similarities between the Eastern and Western dialects of Japanese, as well as the regional accents of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Tokai-Tosan, Hokuriku, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu. See examples of how to say common words and phrases in each dialect and how they vary from Standard Japanese.
- There are multiple dialects spoken in Japan. The exact number varies depending on the source, but there are around 10 major dialects and over 100 l...
- The most commonly spoken dialect in Japan is the Tokyo dialect. It is also known as Standard Japanese and is the official language of the country.
- Japanese people are generally able to understand different dialects, although some may be more difficult to comprehend than others. It can depend o...
- It is not necessary to learn a Japanese dialect when studying the language, as Standard Japanese is the official language and the most widely used....
Oct 1, 2021 · Learn how to recognize and use different dialects of Japanese in 47 prefectures of Japan. See examples of common expressions, words and phrases in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku/Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa regions.
Feb 4, 2017 · Japan has a wide variety of distinctive regional dialects. While the spread of standard Japanese, referred to as hyōjungo, has made it easier for people from different areas to communicate,...
