Japanese with Manga

Hurry up with 早う

Grammar Explanation: Grammar in the Kansai dialect

Manga panel from 舞妓さんちのまかないさん showing example of Hurry up with 早う.
舞妓さんちのまかないさん » Volume 10 » Page 86

Kenta’s class visits Kyoto, and he takes the opportunity to stops by the place where Sumire and Kiyo are staying. He meets with Sumire, but Kiyo is out. When Sumire hears Kiyo in the kitchen later, she calls a cab for the two to rendezvous with Kenta.

キヨ:
「あ、ちょっとまって。」
“Ah, wait a moment.”
すみれ:
「キヨちゃん早(はよ)う！！」
“Kiyo-chan, hurry up!!”

Key Points

1早(はよ)う means “hurry up” here
  • It is the Kansai counterpart of 早(はや)く, “quickly”. The reading is はよう, with a long お sound.
2ちょっとまって asks for a moment’s wait
  • まって is 待(ま)って, the て-form of 待(ま)つ, “to wait”. Ending the line on this form makes a casual request.
  • ちょっと means “a little” and makes the requested wait brief. ちょっと待(ま)ってください would be the polite version.
  • ちゃん is an affectionate, informal suffix attached to names, used mainly for children, close friends, and family members.

See Also

舞妓さんちのまかないさん © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.