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Grammar detail: colloquial variations of Japanese
colloquial variations of Japanese
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In daily use, many Japanese constructions are contracted or simplified, especially in the spoken language. For example:
てしまう ➜ ちゃう
〜ている ➜ 〜てる (colloquial progressive)
ている・ておる ➜ 〜ちょる (regional colloquial progressive)
The form ちょる is used instead of ている. Usually it is added to the stem (つけちょる), but in historical dialect it was sometimes added to the plain form (いうちょる). This form is actually a contraction of ておる.
〜ていない ➜ 〜てない (negative colloquial progressive)
〜られる ➜ 〜れる (used in passive and potential forms)
This colloquialism is known as 'ranuki kotoba', ie 'word missing ra' (from ら
ぬ
きことば
). Historically this form was considered incorrect, although it is becoming increasingly common.なくてはいけない ➜ なくちゃ
have to do
なければ ➜ なきゃ
かもしれない ➜ かも
The common word かもしれない (meaning 'probably is', or 'is probably the case') is often shortened to just かも colloquially.
という ➜ って
casual version of という
は ➜ って
って can also be used as a substitute for は (or というのは) at the end of a sentence. For example:
の to indicate a question
question or emphasis
れは, れば, りは, りや ➜ りゃ
colloquial contraction of れば or りは
な as shortened imperative
Sometimes なさい is shortened to simply な as a rough (but not rude) imperative.
Particle omission
In colloquial Japanese, particles such as は and が are often left out. For example:
のうち ➜ んち
Sometimes the ん will also be omitted:
ていって ➜ てって
colloquial contraction of ていって
ていく ➜ てく
More generally, any form of the ていく construction can be shortened colloquially to the equivalent form without the い, eg てく.
See also:
- 関西弁（かんさいべん） - the Kansai dialect of Japanese
Kanji used in this grammar
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