Regional speech can connect people with a place and its community.

The idea

In some Osaka speech, なおす can mean “put away”; standard 片付ける expresses that meaning. Standard 直す often means “repair”. Listen to the situation and the speaker’s intended meaning.

Examples

  • 本ほんを棚たなに片付かたづけます。I put the book away on the shelf.
  • 壊こわれた時計とけいを直なおしてもらいます。I have the broken clock repaired.
  • その表現ひょうげんは大阪おおさかと結むすびついています。That expression is associated with Osaka.
  • 話はなし方かたは地域ちいきによって違ちがいます。The way people speak varies by region.
  • 彼女かのじょは家族かぞくと地元じもとの言葉ことばを使つかいます。She uses local words with her family.
  • 同おなじ人ひとでも場面ばめんによって話はなし方かたを変かえます。The same person changes how they speak depending on the situation.

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

Watch out

A regional feature does not identify every speaker from a place. People vary their speech with audience and situation, and the form is not exclusive to Osaka.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the standard equivalent of Osaka-associated “put away”: （片付ける／壊す）

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    片付ける

    なおす can mean “put away” in some Osaka speech; 片付ける is the standard equivalent.

  2. Choose the standard verb for repairing a broken clock: （直す／捨てる）

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    直す

    直す in this standard context means “repair”; the broken clock makes the meaning clear.

  3. Choose the word meaning “region”: （地域／時計）

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    地域

    地域 means “region”; a regional expression can suggest a connection to a place without proving where the speaker comes from.

Use it today

Compare putting a book away with repairing a clock; consider what a regional word may convey about belonging.