Master Sanuki-ben with this guide and fit in with the locals
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Beautiful Takamatsu Station and Sunport area near the Seto Inland Sea
What is Sanuki-ben and why should you study it?
Sanuki-ben is the local regional dialect of the Japanese language in Kagawa prefecture. Kagawa is Japan’s smallest prefecture, yet Sanuki-ben is divided into two versions: eastern Sanuki-ben and western Sanuki-ben. Anyone who is living in Kagawa or visiting can use this basic guide of essential expressions to navigate the unique dialect and communicate with locals in their native language. Language is always a fun topic of conversation when meeting someone new in Japan, so speaking a little Sanuki-ben can act as an ice-breaker. Native Sanuki-ben speaking Kagawa residents can also use this guide to teach tourists, visitors, or international residents some Sanuki-ben to help them on their way.
This guide of essential Sanuki-ben is designed for anyone, regardless of experience with the Japanese language. We have prepared several useful expressions and translated them into standard Japanese as well as English. There are also recorded samples of the examples to master the correct pronunciation. Sanuki-ben is a little more complex than other dialects in Japan, but this guide will give you a solid foundation to have you speaking like a native Kagawan in no time at all.
15 Sanuki-ben Expressions with Standard Japanese, English, and Audio Examples
1. Because, so – けん(ken) East Kagawa/きん(kin) West Kagawa
Examples
音声プレーヤー今日は日曜日やけん、はやく帰る。 (きょう は にちようび や けん、はやく かえる。)
音声プレーヤーToday is Sunday, so I have to go home early.
2. What’s up? – なんがでっきょんな? (nan ga dekkyon na?)
3. What are you doing? – なんしょん? (nan shōn?)
Examples
音声プレーヤー海(うみ)にいきたい。なんしょん?
音声プレーヤーI want to go to the beach. What are you doing?
4. Tired (difficult) – えらい (erai)
Examples
音声プレーヤーこのハイキングルートはながいけん、えらい!
音声プレーヤーThis hiking course is long, so I’m tired!

A wild bird lands on the hand of a Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage traveler for a snack.
5. I’m full – おなかがおきた (onaka ga okita)
Examples
音声プレーヤーうどん食べてお腹がおきた。(うどんたべておなかがおきた。)
音声プレーヤーI had udon and I’m full.
6. Full to the top (e.g. pouring a drink) – まけまけいっぱい (maké maké ippai) West Kagawa only
Examples
音声プレーヤービールをまけまけいっぱいにしてください。
音声プレーヤーFill my beer up to the brim please.
7. Negative verb form (don’t + verb) – せん/ ~ん (sen/ ~n)
Examples
音声プレーヤー意味分からん
音声プレーヤーI don’t understand the meaning.
音声プレーヤー
彼は宿題せん。
音声プレーヤーHe doesn’t do his homework.
8. have to + verb – ~ないかん (~na ikan)
Examples
音声プレーヤーママにでんわせないかん。
音声プレーヤーI have to call my mom.
音声プレーヤー
ともだちがまっている。いかないかん。
音声プレーヤーMy friend is waiting. I have to go.

Sanuki udon is Kagawa’s soul food with over 600 shops in the prefecture.
9. ~ing (continuous form) – ~ょん/~よる (~yon/~yoru)
Examples
音声プレーヤーわたしはたべよるけん、話(はなし)できん。
音声プレーヤーI can’t talk because I’m eating.
音声プレーヤー
彼女(かのじょ)はいすからたちよる。
音声プレーヤーShe is standing up from her chair.
10. ~ing (in a state of) – ~っとん/~っとる (~ton/~toru)
Examples
音声プレーヤーA:明日は月曜日。
B:しっとる。
A: Tomorrow is Monday.
B: I know!
音声プレーヤー
彼女(かのじょ)はえきまえにたっとる。
音声プレーヤーShe is standing in front of the station.
11. everything – まんでがん (mandegan)
Examples
音声プレーヤーこのおかし、まんでがんいた。 (まんでがんください)
音声プレーヤーI’d like all this candy please.
12. nothing – なんちゃ (nancha)
Examples
音声プレーヤー冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)になんちゃない。
音声プレーヤーThere’s nothing in the fridge.

The sun sets into the Seto Inland Sea behind the Great Seto Bridge and islands of Kagawa Prefecture.
13. please – いた (ita) East Kagawa / つか (tsuka) West Kagawa
Examples
音声プレーヤーうどんもってきていた。/うどんもってきてつか。
音声プレーヤーPlease bring some udon.
14. how much/how many – なんぼ (nanbo)
Examples
音声プレーヤーこの時計はなんぼ?
音声プレーヤーHow much is this clock?
音声プレーヤー
CDなんぼもっとる?
音声プレーヤーHow many CD’s do you have?
15. scaredy-cat (person who’s afraid) – おとっちゃま (ottochama)
Examples
音声プレーヤーマイクさんはへびをみて、逃げた(にげた)。彼(かれ)はおとっちゃまやな!
音声プレーヤーMike saw a snake and ran away. He’s a scaredy-cat.
Kagawa Prefecture is the last prefecture in Japan with ‘itadakisan’ (fish peddlers) still selling fish on bicycle carts.
The Most Famous Sanuki-ben Sentence
Now that you understand some basic Sanuki-ben, here’s the king of all expressions in this dialect. The following example was actually said in a conversation about New Year’s postcards which went something like this:
A: Do you write many New Year’s postcards every year?
B: No. I don’t write them, so no one sends them to me. And since no one sends them to me, I don’t write them.
And now let’s hear it in Sanuki-ben.
16. I don’t write them, so no one sends them. No one sends them, so I don’t write them. – かかんきんこん、こんきんかかん。(kakan kin kon, kon kin kakan.)
I don’t write them, so I don’t get them. I don’t get them, so I don’t write them.
音声プレーヤーWhen In Rome, Do as the Romans Do!
This guide to Sanuki-ben is a good start to understanding the language and culture of Kagawa Prefecture on a deeper level. It will help you get started but the best way to learn and practice Sanuki-ben is to go out and try it for yourself! When you meet local people from Kagawa, don’t be an ottachama (scaredy-cat)! Start up a conversation in the local dialect. Most people are happy to talk to you and even teach you some new words and expressions. Have fun!