Explore a few features associated with Osaka speech in context.

The idea

In some Osaka speech, なおす can mean “put away”, ほかす “throw away”, あかん “no good” and なんぼ “how much”. In standard Japanese 直す often means “repair”; context matters because なおす can have several meanings. The examples use standard Japanese.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
なおすOsaka: put away
ほかすOsaka: throw away
あかんOsaka: no good
なんぼOsaka: how much

Examples

  • 使つかった本ほんを棚たなに片付かたづけます。I put the book I used away on a shelf.
  • 古ふるい紙かみをごみ箱ばこに捨すてます。I throw old paper into the rubbish bin.
  • 壊こわれた時計とけいを店みせで直なおしてもらいます。I have a broken clock repaired at a shop.
  • この店みせの魚さかなはいくらですか。How much is the fish at this shop?
  • ここに入はいってはいけません。You must not enter here.
  • 意味いみがわからない時ときは、人ひとに聞ききます。When I do not understand the meaning, I ask someone.

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 are not exclusive to Osaka, nor used by every Osaka speaker. Age, locality and situation affect speech; avoid imitating a stereotype.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the Japanese term for “Osaka: put away”: （なおす／ほかす）

    Show answer or example answer

    なおす

    なおす means “Osaka: put away”; ほかす means “Osaka: throw away”.

  2. Choose the Japanese term for “Osaka: throw away”: （ほかす／あかん）

    Show answer or example answer

    ほかす

    ほかす means “Osaka: throw away”; あかん means “Osaka: no good”.

  3. Choose the Japanese term for “Osaka: no good”: （あかん／なおす）

    Show answer or example answer

    あかん

    あかん means “Osaka: no good”; なおす means “Osaka: put away”.

Use it today

Compare putting away a book with repairing a clock in two standard Japanese sentences.