Welcome to the first post of “J-Slang,” where I write slang that should sometimes never be repeated! 😛 Why?! Because Japanese should be a beautiful, eloquent language, not dirty, and rough!
Japanese language is so difficult. Being Japanese but born in the US, my skills and confidence level in the language is pretty much non-existent. There’s so much depth to the language. You’ve got the “polite” version, as well as the “humble” version….THEN there’s the SLANG. I love it. I’ll probably focus a lot on Osaka Slang. Why? Because I lived 3 ½ years of my life in the heart of Osaka. Osaka is in the Kansai region of Japan, which is Western Japan. To me, Osaka is my second home. My home away from home. I get really excited when I meet Osakans in LA, or when we go to Osaka while on tour.
Osaka dialect, like Osaka people, is straight-forward. Lots of intonation and slang. People from the Kanto region, like Tokyo, kind of frown upon and look down on Osakans because to them, they lack the elegance and they’re a bit rough around the edges. I don’t mind it! I love it!
I picked up a little bit of Osaka slang having immersed myself in the local culture.
Today’s Slang:
NANDEYANEN?! なんでやねん？！
Nandeyanen is similar to, “WTH?!” Often following something stupid that’s said or done. I have a dear Osakan friend, who, after almost everything I say, follows with, “Nandeyanen!?” Probably hard to believe, but yes, I am full of stupid remarks. 😛 Just watch Osaka Comedy shows-many of the duos will say this phrase, and then smack the other on the head. It’s pretty funny to see. I have grown the habit of saying “Nandeyanen” myself too, but Osaka people always tell me, “Your intonation is wrong!” So difficult! They tell me you have to put strong emphasis on the “DE”—>”nanDEyanen?!”
So next time Evan says something ridiculous, try saying, “Nandeyanen!?” 😛 Please don’t smack him on the head though! 🙂