Meaning

Primary

Kansai

Word Type

proper noun

Explanation

Get connected to west Japan by going to Kansai!

関西 is a region in western Japan that includes cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. To get to West Japan, you have to pass through (or over) it, so you can think of it as the geographical beginning of western Japan.

Reading

かんさい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word that uses on'yomi readings. The 西 on'yomi is usually going to be せい, which you've seen before, but in this word it's さい. Here's a mnemonic to help you remember that:

Ugh, tricky readings like the one for Kansai really make you want to sigh (さい).

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 関西出身

    person from Kansai

    関西弁

    Kansai dialect

    関西みやげ

    souvenir from Kansai

Context Sentences

あのコンビは関西の芸人です。

That comedy duo is from the Kansai region.

こいつは関西は完全に初心者だから、俺らがガイドしてやらないとな。

This guy is a total noob in Kansai, so we’ll have to show him around.

関東の人と関西の人って折が合わないって聞いたんですが、本当ですか。

I heard that people from Kanto and people from Kansai don't get along well. Is it true?

Kanji Composition