At a station, A uses Kansai-associated speech and B speaks standard Japanese. Read the original scripted exchange, then listen if audio is available.

The idea

In A’s まだ出てへん, へん marks a negative: the train has not left yet. あかん means that waiting there is not allowed. B’s standard replies and the station setting help establish the meaning.

Read the text

駅での会話(オリジナルの学習用会話。Aは関西の話し方、Bは共通語)。

A:「電車でんしゃ、まだ出でてへんよ。」 B:「そうですか。ここで待まってもいいですか。」 A:「そこはあかん。駅えきの中なかで待まとう。」 B:「わかりました。次つぎの電車でんしゃは十分後じゅっぷんごですね。」

Examples

  • 今日きょうは駅えきで友達ともだちを待まちます。Today I will wait for a friend at the station.
  • 電車でんしゃはもう出でましたか。Has the train already left?
  • いいえ、まだ出でていません。No, it has not left yet.
  • 次つぎの電車でんしゃは十分後じゅっぷんごです。The next train is in ten minutes.
  • ここで待まってもいいですか。May I wait here?
  • はい、ここで待まちましょう。Yes, let us wait here.

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

Watch out

Kansai speech varies by person and place; neither form identifies every speaker. Do not assume あかん always means a formal prohibition.

Try it yourself

  1. 「まだ出てへん」の共通語は?(まだ出ていません/もう出ました)

    Show answer or example answer

    まだ出ていません

    まだ出ていません: へん makes 出る negative, and まだ means the train has not left yet.

  2. 「あかん」の共通語は?(いけません/いいです)

    Show answer or example answer

    いけません

    いけません: in this context あかん rules out waiting there, rather than giving permission.

  3. 二人はどこで待ちますか。(駅/店)

    Show answer or example answer

    駅

    駅: A proposes waiting inside the station; B agrees.

Use it today

Trace what has not happened and where the pair will wait; compare A’s wording with the standard examples.