Hello, how are you?

Today’s topic is regional dialects. Do you speak any dialect?

In Fukuoka, where NILS is located, we have a very distinct dialect called 博多弁(はかたべん) (Hakata-ben).

Let me introduce a few Hakata-ben words/phrases you might hear frequently.

(1) よか (Yoka)

   It means good, nice, or fine.

  [Example] 「髪(かみ)染(そ)めたと？　よか色(いろ)やね！｣  “Kami someta to?  Yoka iroyane.”

           (Did you color your hair?  It’s great color!)　　　　　　　　

(2) ばり (bari)

       Very, quite, or super.

(3) うまか (Umaka)

        Delicious, yummy, etc.

      [Example] ｢この寿司(すし)ばりうまか！｣   “Kono sushi bari umaka!”

              (This sushi is super delicious!)　　　　　　　　

(4) ~と？ / ~と。　(-to?  /  -to.)

   This ending is used when asking a question. It’s also used for answering the question.

   If the ending of the sentence is rising, it’s a question. If declining or neutral, it’s not a question.

  [Example] 「すいとーと？」  “Suito to?”                  (Do you like it?)

　　   「うん、すいとーと｣  “Un, suito to.”         (Yes, I like it.)　　　　

You don’t need to learn Hakata-ben to study in school.

Regional dialects are an extra knowledge.

Yet, our students have plenty of opportunities to hear Hakata-ben in every day life.

Sometimes, they surprise native Hakata people with their Hakata-ben.

It might be fun to learn this “extra knowledge”. 

You will definitely be able to adapt to the local culture smoothly.

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