An introduction to Tōhoku varieties

The idea

In some Tōhoku varieties, んだ can express agreement, roughly like そうだ. A sentence-final べ or だべ can express conjecture, like だろう; its meaning also depends on context. The example sentences use standard Japanese.

Examples

• 今日きょうは寒さむいですね。It is cold today, isn’t it?
• そうですね、寒さむいです。Yes, it is cold.
• 明日あしたは雨あめでしょう。It will probably rain tomorrow.
• 子こどもが外そとで遊あそんでいます。The children are playing outside.
• 地域ちいきによって言葉ことばが違ちがいます。Speech differs by region.
• 意味いみがわからなければ、聞きいてください。If you do not understand the meaning, please ask.

Watch out

Tōhoku contains many varieties: neither form is used everywhere or by everyone, and usage varies with place, age and situation. Do not treat a form as a stereotype.

Try it yourself

1. Choose a form that can express agreement in some Tōhoku varieties: （んだ／だべ）

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   んだ

   んだ can express agreement; だべ can express conjecture.

2. Choose a sentence-final form that can express conjecture in some Tōhoku varieties: （だべ／んだ）

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   だべ

   だべ can express conjecture; んだ can express agreement.

3. Choose the polite standard form expressing conjecture: （でしょう／ですね）

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   でしょう

   でしょう expresses a prediction in polite standard Japanese; ですね seeks agreement.

Use it today

Compare a response of agreement with a sentence expressing a prediction.