1.
no good; not acceptable; hopeless
Kansai dialect equivalent of だめ (dame), indicating something is no good, unacceptable, or impossible.
もうあかんわ。
It's no good anymore.
この機械、あかんわ。
This machine is no good.
今日は体調があかんねん。
I'm not feeling well today.
2.
must not; should not
Used to express prohibition or that something should not be done.
ここで走ったらあかん。
You must not run here.
ここでタバコ吸ったらあかんで。
You must not smoke here.
遅刻したらあかんから、早めに出よう。
We shouldn't be late, so let's leave early.
DIALECT:
Kansai (関西) dialect, widely used throughout the region.
ORIGIN:
From 埒が明かぬ (rachi ga akanu - "the fence won't open," meaning no progress), contracted to あかん.
STANDARD EQUIVALENT:
だめ / いけない (standard Japanese)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜したらあかん - must not do ~
- 〜せんとあかん - must do ~
- あかんわ - it's no good (emphatic)
- あかんかった - was no good (past)
- あかんやん - it's no good, isn't it
IDIOMATIC:
- もうあかん - I give up / It's hopeless
- あかん子ほどかわいい - The worse the child, the more you love them
NOTE:
One of the most recognizable Kansai expressions, frequently heard in media and comedy.
Related Words
Antonym:
ええやん (it's good)