Learn to identify a few forms associated with Kyoto speech in context.

The idea

おおきに can express thanks; 〜へん can mark a negative, as in 行かへん (“do not go”); and 〜はる can show respect for another person’s action, as in 帰らはる. The examples use standard Japanese.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
おおきにthanks
行かへんdo not go
帰らはるsomeone goes home (respectful)

Examples

  • 今日きょうは早はやく帰かえります。I will go home early today.
  • 先生せんせいはもう帰かえりました。The teacher has already gone home.
  • 明日あしたは学校がっこうに行いきません。I will not go to school tomorrow.
  • 母ははは今いま、台所だいどころにいます。My mother is in the kitchen now.
  • 友達ともだちにお礼れいを言いいます。I thank my friend.
  • この料理りょうりはとてもおいしいです。This dish is very tasty.

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

Watch out

These forms also occur elsewhere in Kansai, and not every Kyoto speaker uses them. The respectful force of 〜はる depends on context; do not apply it to your own actions as a standard polite ending.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the Kyoto-associated expression for “thank you”: （おおきに／行かへん）

    Show answer or example answer

    おおきに

    おおきに expresses thanks; 行かへん means “do not go”.

  2. Choose the negative form meaning “do not go”: （行かへん／帰らはる）

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    行かへん

    行かへん is a negative form; 帰らはる refers respectfully to someone going home.

  3. Choose the respectful form for another person going home: （帰らはる／おおきに）

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    帰らはる

    帰らはる uses 〜はる for another person’s action; おおきに expresses thanks.

Use it today

Compare the standard sentences about the teacher going home and not going to school with the regional forms.