Introducing the unique dialect spoken in Osaka
The language generally spoken in Tokyo is "standard Japanese," which is understood throughout Japan. Japan has many unique dialects, and one of these is the "Osaka dialect," which is unique. There are phrases and words with special nuances that are only used in the Kansai region.
Thank you very much
"Ookini" is the English equivalent of "thank you" and "arigatou" in standard Japanese. It's a versatile Osaka dialect word, so once you get the hang of it, it's a very handy word to use. Adding "okini" to the end of a conversation can help things go more smoothly, so it's probably similar to the English "thank you" or "please."
Originally, it was a word used to express quantity, such as "okinii, arigato" (very, very) or "okinii, gokurosana" (thank you for the effort), but this was gradually abbreviated and it became common to use it independently. As a way of expressing gratitude, it is commonly used in Osaka restaurants when seeing off customers who have paid the bill. Another Osaka-style way to express gratitude is when a friend treats you to a meal, saying "okinii, gochisousan" (thank you for the meal). "Okinii, summahen" (thank you for the meal) is a word used to express gratitude when you have made a mistake and the other person has forgiven you. In business negotiations, when you say "okinii, I'll think about it," it is often used with a gentle meaning of "no thanks." Be careful not to mistake this as a deal being closed.
Nambo
Osaka has a history of hundreds of years as a commercial center in Japan. Osaka has a unique way of negotiating prices. "Nanbo" means "How much is it?" in standard Japanese. When a shopper picks up an item they are interested in, they ask the store clerk, "Hey, how much is this?" (The emphasis is on the "bo" in "nanbo").
In Osaka, customers are also businessmen. In local shopping districts, you will often come across customers bargaining for a price. "Hey, how much can you pay for this?"
Shaa-nai
This phrase is surprisingly meaningful, and when used by adults who have experienced the ups and downs of life, it takes on a variety of meanings and takes on a certain flavor. It's generally used when something goes in a direction you didn't expect and you feel like "there's nothing you can do about it." When you say, "I see, that can't be helped," it means "let's give up." Or it can mean something like, "I get it. That's the way it is." It's a phrase that's difficult to translate into standard Japanese, but if you had to say, it's probably close in meaning to the famous Spanish phrase, "Que sera sera." It means facing tomorrow with a positive attitude, not dwelling on what you couldn't do today, and following the Latin-Osaka rationalism of life.
However, Osakans also use the word "shaa nai" when they're in a bad mood. Things have turned out the way they want, but there's nothing they can do to change that fate. This is the kind of word that expresses dissatisfaction, and it activates the Osakan-specific defiant attitude of "shaa nai!", showing Osakan toughness.
Bochi-bochi
A famous Osaka greeting is "Mokarimakka?" or "Bochibochi denna." A literal translation of "Mokarimakka?" is "Are you making a lot of money?", but this is a typical phrase that shows the business-mindedness of Osaka people. It is not a way to inquire about the other person's financial situation, and has the nuance of a casual greeting similar to "Domo" or "Hello." The counterpoint to this greeting is always "Bochibochi denna."
"Bochibochi" is the standard Japanese translation of "botsubotsu." It's a word that describes a situation that's neither particularly good nor extremely bad. It's a word that describes an intermediate state. Even if you get too worked up and get carried away, nothing good will come of it. "Take it easy" is the best. This word exudes the cheerfulness and laid-back nature of Osaka people.
Furthermore, when leaving, Osakans will say "bochi bochi kaeroka," which means "it's about time to go home." Similarly, "bochi bochi ikoka" is an expression used when you want to invite someone to do something else without disrupting their pace.
Maido
This is another greeting familiar to Osaka merchants. It is the first thing that salesmen, businessmen, and merchants say when they visit a customer. It is an abbreviation of "Thank you for your continued support" and "Thank you for your continued patronage." Not only when meeting a customer face-to-face, but also on the phone, "Maido, maido" is sometimes used instead of "moshi moshi." While "maido" is generally a phrase used by men, you can often see female store clerks at greengrocers, fishmongers, butchers, and other stores in shopping districts greeting regular customers with a cheerful "maido!"