🇯🇵 Kyoto Dialect ① : 〜はりますか？

Q, Does Kyoto have a dialect ?

A. Yes, it does.

→ In Kyoto, people basically speak Kansai dialect, which many people outside Japan imagine as “Osaka dialect.” However, the Kyoto version tends to sound softer, more polite, and more indirect.

This way of speaking is commonly called Kyoto dialect (Kyoto-ben).

Some key characteristics of Kyoto dialect are:

• Caring about distance and politeness

• Avoiding direct or strong expressions

• Using soft, gentle wording

  
  

① 〜はりますか ( harimas ka )?

 ≒ ~していますか ( shite imas ka)？

Are you doing ~? / Do you ~?

Examples:

• 元気してはりますか？　( Genki shite harimas ka? )

→How are you? / Are you good?

• 今どこに住んではりますか？ ( Ima doko ni sunde harimas ka? )

→ Where are you living now?

• 今なにしてはりますか？　( Ima nani shite harimas ka? )

  → What are you doing now?

Why do people use “haru”?

“Haru” is a verb ending often used in Kyoto dialect to show politeness and consideration toward the other person.

It adds:

• Respect

• Softness

• A comfortable distance

That’s why you hear it in many everyday situations, such as:

• Talking to customers

• Speaking with neighbors

• Casual but polite conversations

Difference from “〜していますか？　( shite imasu ka? )”

Using “〜shite imasu ka?” is not wrong at all. However, in Kyoto, it can sometimes sound a bit direct.

By using:

〜はりますか？　( harimasu ka? )

your question sounds:

• Softer

• More polite

• More “Kyoto-like”

Final thoughts

Kyoto dialect is not about strong accents or difficult words. It’s more like a culture of speaking gently.

As a first step, remembering:

〜はりますか？ ( harimasu ka? )

will already make your Japanese sound much more natural in Kyoto.

In the next part, I’ll introduce another Kyoto expression.

ありがとう Thank you