If you’re studying Japanese and want to expand your understanding beyond standard Japanese (標準語・ひょうじゅんご・hyoujungo), exploring regional dialects (方言・ほうげん・hougen) can be a fascinating journey. One of the most unique and vibrant dialects is Hiroshima-ben (広島弁・ひろしまべん・hiroshimaben), spoken in Hiroshima Prefecture and surrounding areas. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key features of Hiroshima-ben, including common phrases, grammar points, and verb conjugations.
What Makes Hiroshima-ben Unique?
Hiroshima-ben is known for its soft intonation, yet it often uses phrases and endings that may feel very different from standard Japanese. Here are some defining characteristics:
- Distinct Verb Endings
- Unique Expressions
- Simplified Grammar
- Pronunciation Variations
Let’s break these down step by step.
1. Verb Endings in Hiroshima-ben
One of the most notable differences in Hiroshima-ben is its unique verb conjugations. Instead of the -te (て) form in standard Japanese, Hiroshima-ben uses -chou (ちょー) for the progressive or continuous tense.
Examples:
- Standard: 食べている (たべている・tabeteiru) → “Eating”
Hiroshima-ben: 食べよる (たべよる・tabeyoru) - Standard: 行っている (いっている・itteiru) → “Going”
Hiroshima-ben: 行きよる (いきよる・ikiyoru)
You’ll also notice that verbs conjugated in the past tense use -とった (とった・totta) instead of the standard -ていた (ていた・teita).
Examples:
- Standard: 見ていた (みていた・miteita) → “Was watching”
Hiroshima-ben: 見よった (みよった・miyotta)
2. Common Hiroshima-ben Expressions
Here are some popular phrases you’ll hear in Hiroshima and what they mean:
- じゃけん (じゃけん・jaken) → “Because” or “That’s why”
This is the Hiroshima equivalent of だから (だから・dakara). It’s used frequently in conversations to explain reasons.
Example: 明日雨が降るけん、行かんじゃけん。
(あした あめが ふるけん、いかんじゃけん・ashita ame ga furuken, ikan jaken)
“It’s going to rain tomorrow, so I won’t go.” - たいぎい (たいぎい・taigii) → “Troublesome” or “Exhausting”
A very common word in Hiroshima to express that something feels like a hassle.
Example: 宿題がたいぎい。
(しゅくだい が たいぎい・shukudai ga taigii)
“Homework is such a pain.” - ぶち (ぶち・buchi) → “Very” or “Extremely”
This is the Hiroshima equivalent of とても (とても・totemo).
Example: ぶちうまい！
(ぶち うまい・buchi umai)
“It’s super delicious!” - いけん (いけん・iken) → “No good” or “Not allowed”
In Hiroshima-ben, this phrase is used to indicate something is wrong or unacceptable.
Example: それはいけん。
(それ は いけん・sore wa iken)
“That’s not okay.”
3. Grammar in Hiroshima-ben
“けん” instead of “から”
In Hiroshima-ben, けん (けん・ken) is used instead of から (から・kara) to mean “because” or “so.”
Example:
- Standard: 今日は忙しいから行けない。
(きょう は いそがしい から いけない・kyou wa isogashii kara ikenai)
“I’m busy today, so I can’t go.”
Hiroshima-ben: 今日忙しいけん行けん。
(きょう いそがしい けん いけん・kyou isogashii ken iken)
“じゃ” instead of “だ” or “です”
Hiroshima-ben often replaces the standard だ (だ・da) or です (です・desu) with じゃ (じゃ・ja).
Example:
- Standard: これは本だ。
(これは ほん だ・kore wa hon da)
“This is a book.”
Hiroshima-ben: これは本じゃ。
(これは ほん じゃ・kore wa hon ja)
4. Pronunciation Variations
Dropping the Final Vowel
In casual speech, Hiroshima-ben often drops the final vowel of words.
Example:
- Standard: 何をしている？
(なに を している・nani wo shiteiru)
Hiroshima-ben: 何しとるん？
(なに しとるん・nani shitorun)
“What are you doing?”
“じゃけん” and “けぇ” Intonation
Words like じゃけん (jaken) (because) and けぇ (ke) (used for emphasis) have a soft, distinctive rise and fall in pitch that makes Hiroshima-ben instantly recognizable.
Practice These Hiroshima-ben Phrases
- Good Morning: おはようさんじゃけぇ (おはよう さん じゃけぇ・ohayou san jakee)
- How are you?: 調子はどうじゃ？ (ちょうし は どう じゃ・choushi wa dou ja)
- I’m hungry: お腹すいたけん、何か食べに行こうや。
(おなか すいたけん、なにか たべ に いこうや・onaka suita ken, nanika tabe ni ikou ya) - Thank you: ありがとうさんじゃ (ありがとう さん じゃ・arigatou san ja)
Final Tips for Learning Hiroshima-ben
- Immerse Yourself
Listen to Hiroshima-based media, such as local TV shows, movies, or interviews. The Hiroshima-based film Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni (この世界の片隅に・kono sekai no katasumi ni) offers great examples of Hiroshima-ben in natural conversation. - Practice with Locals
If you’re in Hiroshima or have friends from the area, don’t hesitate to practice. Locals will appreciate your effort to learn their dialect! - Focus on Context
Hiroshima-ben uses many phrases that vary depending on the situation. By paying attention to the context, you’ll pick up the correct nuances.
Hiroshima-ben is an exciting and colorful dialect that offers a fresh perspective on Japanese language and culture. Whether you’re traveling to Hiroshima or simply want to deepen your understanding of regional Japanese, learning Hiroshima-ben is a rewarding experience.
じゃけぇ、がんばって練習しんさいよ！
(じゃけぇ、がんばって れんしゅう しんさいよ・jakee, ganbatte renshuu shinsai yo!)
“So, keep practicing hard!”
