Listen for regional words alongside the standard Japanese you already know.

The idea

In some Hokkaido speech, なまら intensifies an adjective (“very”), したっけ can mean “then” or “see you”, and こわい can mean “tired”. Standard Japanese とても, それでは and 疲れた express the senses used here. The examples below are standard Japanese.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
なまらvery
したっけthen; see you
こわいtired

Examples

  • 今日きょうはとても寒さむいです。Today is very cold.
  • それでは、また明日あした。Then, see you tomorrow.
  • 歩あるいた後あと、疲つかれました。I am tired after walking.
  • このスープはとても熱あついです。This soup is very hot.
  • 仕事しごとの後あと、家いえに帰かえります。I will go home after work.
  • あの映画えいがは怖こわかったです。That film was scary.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

こわい commonly means “scary” in standard Japanese. Context determines the intended meaning; these regional words are not used by every Hokkaido speaker, and usage varies by place, age and situation.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the Hokkaido-associated word for “very”: （なまら／したっけ）

    Show answer or example answer

    なまら

    なまら means “very”; したっけ can mean “then” or “see you”.

  2. Choose the Hokkaido-associated word that can mean “then” or “see you”: （したっけ／こわい）

    Show answer or example answer

    したっけ

    したっけ can mean “then” or “see you”; こわい can mean “tired”.

  3. Choose the Hokkaido-associated word that can mean “tired”: （こわい／なまら）

    Show answer or example answer

    こわい

    こわい can mean “tired”; なまら means “very”.

Use it today

Compare a very cold day with feeling tired after walking, using the standard examples.