Meaning

Primary

Osaka

Alternative

Oosaka

Word Type

proper noun

Explanation

A big place called Osaka? This is the city of Osaka! Ever heard of it? It's a big city, and kind of the rival to Tokyo.

Reading

おおさか
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The おおさか reading for this word is made up of the kun'yomi for each kanji. You've learned the おお reading (like in 大きい), but you haven't seen the さか reading for yet.

That said, doesn't look a lot like , which also means "slope"? Turns out they share the さか reading as well, so if you remember the word you can apply that reading here. (In fact, 大阪 was sometimes written as 大坂 in the old days.) The easiest mnemonic is probably just to think of the city of Osaka though… Just don't forget about the double おお.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 大阪にいる

    to be in Osaka

    大阪にある

    to be in Osaka

    大阪に行く

    to go to Osaka

Context Sentences

私は生まれは大阪です。

I was born in Osaka.

大阪には美味しい食べ物がたくさんあります。

Osaka has a lot of delicious food.

大阪旅行が楽しみすぎて、勉強がすっかりお留守になってしまっていました。

I was so excited about the Osaka trip that I totally neglected my studies.

Kanji Composition