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.:: NAGOYA BEN ::.
Nagoya's dialect, is a little similar to the one you hear in Kansai. The dialect in Nagoya is a mix of the one used in Mikawa, a region in Aichi that borders Gifu prefecture. One thing that sets Nagoya's (most of Aichi, too) dialect apar, is where they place the stress in a word.
I taught English in Japan, and one of my students thought that people in Nagoya have an odd way of pronouncing words. He is from Osaka, by the way.
For example : Na-go-ya.
People who are from the Kansai and Tokyo region say: na-GO-ya
Locals say: NA-go-ya
Basically, the stress is placed at the beginning of most words with 3 or more syllables.
By the way, the Japanese used in Tokyo is considered the national language. It is not a dialect, therefore it is called 標準語 (hyoujungo)
.:: COMMONLY USED WORDS/EXPRESSIONS ::.
デラ: very, really, super
この店のラーメンってデラ上手いですね！
The ramen in this restaurant is really good!
ケッタ: bicycle
今日学校までケッタを乗りました。
I rode my bicycle to school today.
えらい: tired, sluggish, not feeling well
運動をやり過ぎてエライ。
I exercised too much and I'm tired.
だがん or だがね：~right? (similar to でしょ）
Aさん：今日は暑いね。
Bさん：そうだがん。
A: It's hot today.
B: You tell me! / I know right?
（机/椅子を）つる：to pull/put away (the tables)
I feel like this one needs a little explanation. In elementary and junior high, we (the students) clean our classroom after class. Before sweeping the floors we have to put our chairs on our desk and pull/push them to the back of the classroom.This gesture is called "tsukue/isu wo tsuru". This expression is not used or understood outside of Aichi.
ねぇ、早く机をつってよ！
Hey, hurry up and put the desks away. (not sure if that makes sense!)
しとる:doing （= している）
何しとるの？
What are you doing?
More slang: 何しとんや？！
〜をほかる: to throw
ゴミをほかったままにしないで。
Don't leave your garbage lying around.
どりゃ：very, really
あの人どりゃ力持ちだよ。
That guy's really strong.
放課：break in between classes
In other regions, this means "after class has finished" (放課後）
次の放課、教員室へ行きましょう。
Let's go to the faculty room after the next break.
車校: driving school (unabbreviated version: 自動車学校）
俺、車校に通い始めたんだ。
I just started attending driving school.
どべ：loser （Tokyo: ビリ、最下位）
いつもドベだから、ボーリングは嫌いだ。
I hate bowling cause I'm always the loser.
たわけ: idiot
Well.. this one doesn't need much explanation ^^;
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.:: LEARNING MATERIALS ::.
I know a lot of threads have posted links of websites that provide free materials for learning Japanese. So, I'm not going to do that, unless I find a website that is interesting or less known.
I want to share some books that I used in college and high school, and some commonly used language books, which I bet most of you already know of.
Unfortunately, most of the books on this list is not for beginners. Everything is written in Japanese, which is good for those who want to take their Japanese studies to the next level!
文法／会話
>> 日本語学入門：日本語教師を目指す人のために
>> And of course : みんなのにほんご
漢字
>> 漢字学習(series)
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.:: COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSIONS ::.
I'm going to try put some words and expressions that are commonly used in everyday life. I believe that for those in a beginner level, studying grammar and vocabulary is important. However, no one wants to sound rigid and textbook-y after learning the basics. Keigo, Kenjogo, Sonkeigo, Bikeigo, etc. are all important, but I also think that developing the ability to engage in casual, daily conversations is essential as well. Of course, I put up some formal phrases as well wink
>> Greetings and Goodbyes
元気？
How are you?
どうも／こんにちは。いつもお世話になっております。
(formal, mainly used by older people.)
Hello. Sorry for always bothering you.
**That's a literal translation above. I don't think there's actually an expression like this in English. It is used by people to greet neighbors, parents of their kid's friends, teachers of their kids. Basically, someone who they don't see or interact everyday, but one of their families do.
調子はどう？
How are you feeling?
**sometimes used after someone recovered from an illness
ヤッホー
(very casual, mostly girls use this)
Hey!
おっす/よっ！
(very casual, guys use this)
Hey!
すみません
Excuse me.
Anyone home?
ごめんください
Is anybody home?
( )さんに宜しくと伝えてね。
(a little formal)
Please send my regards to (someone).
じゃあね／またね
See you.
また遊ぼうね。
Let's hang out again some time.
じゃあ、お元気でね。
Alright, you take care.
気をつけてね。じゃあね〜
Take care. Bye~
>> Apology
ごめん／ごめんね
Sorry
すまん／すまない
(formal, commonly used by men)
Sorry
申し訳ない／申し訳ございません。
(formal)
I'm very sorry.
お待たせ／大変お待たせ致しました。
I'm (really) sorry to keep you waiting.
お手数ですが。
(formal)
(literal) Although it is an inconvenience/burden to you.
** This is used when you are requesting someone to do something for you.
Mostly used in written form.
E.g. お手数ですが、もう一度書類を送って頂きませんか。
I know it is inconvenient for you, but could you please send the document again.
恐れ要ります
(formal way of saying すみません)
I'm sorry to bother you.
**It's actually a form of thanking someone, when they do something that might be an inconvenience to them.
E.g. At a restaurant, when a customer hands their plate to the waiter/waitress after they finished their meal. The waiter/waitress will say:
恐れ要ります instead of ありがとうございます
失礼／失礼します／失礼しました
Coming through / excuse me
Before hanging up the phone (formal)
Before leaving an office or someone's house (formal)
ご迷惑をおかけして(大変）申し訳ございません。
(very, very formal)
I'm (very) sorry to have caused you trouble.
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