Master Sanuki-ben with this guide and fit in with the locals
Contents
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
けん(east)/きん（west) = ので、から
Because, so
Examples
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。）
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?)
なんがでっきょんな？ = なにをしているの？
What’s up?
3. What are you doing? – なんしょん? (nan shōn?)
なんしょん？= なにをしているの？
What are you doing?
Examples
海（うみ）にいきたい。なんしょん？
I want to go to the beach. What are you doing?
4. Tired (difficult) – えらい (erai)
えらい = つかれた、たいへん
tired (beat), tough
Examples
このハイキングルートはながいけん、えらい！
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)
おなかがおきた = おなかがいっぱい
I’m full.
Examples
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。）
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
まけまけいっぱい= ぎりぎりいっぱい
full to the brim/full to the top
Examples
ビールをまけまけいっぱいにしてください。
Fill my beer up to the brim please.
7. Negative verb form (don’t + verb) – せん/ ~ん (sen/ ~n)
分からん/宿題せん = 分からない/宿題しない
don’t know (understand) / don’t (doesn’t) do homework
Examples
意味分からん
I don’t understand the meaning.
彼は宿題せん。
He doesn’t do his homework.
8. have to + verb – ~ないかん (~na ikan)
でんわせないかん/いかないかん = でんわしなければならない/いかないとだめ
I have to call/I have to go
Examples
ママにでんわせないかん。
I have to call my mom.
ともだちがまっている。いかないかん。
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)
しゅくだいしよる, およぎよる, たべよる, たちよる, はたらきよる = ~ている
doing homework, swimming, eating, standing up, working
Examples
わたしはたべよるけん、話（はなし）できん。
I can’t talk because I’m eating.
彼女（かのじょ）はいすからたちよる。
She is standing up from her chair.
10. ~ing (in a state of) – ～っとん/～っとる (~ton/~toru)
分かっとる、知っとる、立っとる = ~ている
understanding (I understand), knowing (I know), standing
Examples
A:明日は月曜日。
B：しっとる。
A: Tomorrow is Monday.
B: I know!
彼女（かのじょ）はえきまえにたっとる。
She is standing in front of the station.
11. everything – まんでがん (mandegan)
まんでがん = すべて、全部
everything, all
Examples
このおかし、まんでがんいた。 （まんでがんください）
I’d like all this candy please.
12. nothing – なんちゃ (nancha)
なんちゃ = なにも
nothing, anything + (negative)
Examples
冷蔵庫（れいぞうこ）になんちゃない。
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
いた/つか = ください
please
Examples
うどんもってきていた。/うどんもってきてつか。
Please bring some udon.
14. how much/how many – なんぼ (nanbo)
なんぼ = いくら、いくつ
how much, how many?
Examples
この時計はなんぼ？
How much is this clock?
CDなんぼもっとる？
How many CD’s do you have?
15. scaredy-cat (person who’s afraid) – おとっちゃま (ottochama)
おとっちゃま = 臆病者(おくびょうもの
scaredy-cat
Examples
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！
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.)
かかんきんこん、こんきんかかん。= 書かないので、来ない。来ないので、書かない
I don’t write them, so I don’t get them. I don’t get them, so I don’t write them.
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!