方言(ほうげん)

Japanese dialects

Japan has many regional dialects, broadly categorized as:

• 関西弁(かんさいべん) - Kansai dialect (Osaka, Kyoto area)
• 東北弁(とうほくべん) - Tohoku dialect (northeastern Japan)
• 九州弁(きゅうしゅうべん) - Kyushu dialect
• 北海道弁(ほっかいどうべん) - Hokkaido dialect
• 沖縄方言(おきなわほうげん) - Okinawan dialects

Common collocations

• 方言(ほうげん)を話(はな)す - to speak a dialect
• 方言(ほうげん)が出(で)る - dialect comes out (unintentionally)
• 方言(ほうげん)が強(つよ)い - to have a strong dialect
• お国(くに)言葉(ことば) - regional speech (more casual/affectionate term)

Related words

• 標準語(ひょうじゅんご) - standard language
• 訛(なま)り - accent, dialect influence
• 共通語(きょうつうご) - common language
• 土地(とち)言葉(ことば) - local speech

Cultural note

Dialects are increasingly valued as cultural heritage. Many people use dialect with family and friends while speaking 標準語(ひょうじゅんご) in formal settings.

Register

Neutral. Standard term for academic and everyday use.