Hokkaido Dialect Words: Nageru, Namara, Shitakke

Introduction

Hello! I'm Keigo. If you are from the US, "Chips" are crispy snacks. But in the UK, "Chips" are hot French fries. Same word, different meaning. Confusing, right?

Japan has these traps too. The word is "Nageru". Your textbook says: "To throw" (like a baseball). But in my hometown, Hokkaido, "Nageru" means something completely different: "To discard" or "To throw in the trash".

In this 3-part series, we're learning more than just words. We're learning the spirit and emotion behind Hokkaido's dialect. Because language isn't just information—it's emotion. It's connection. It's belonging.

📖 Contents of This Article

Episode 1: Throwing a Pen? — The Real Meaning of "Nageru" in Hokkaido
Episode 2: Namara Cold — How to Express Emotion with "Namara"
Episode 3: Shitakke! — The Warmest Goodbye of Hokkaido

Episode 1: Throwing a Pen? — The Real Meaning of "Nageru" in Hokkaido

Example sentences

Nageru: throwing trash away

6 seconds

The example sentences, recorded one by one.

Read the transcript

このごみ、なげてください。
Please throw this trash away.

このごみ、捨すててください。
Please throw this trash away.

Audio from the video

Listen to what nageru means in Hokkaido

56 seconds

A clip from a short YouTube video, explanation included.

Read the transcript

If you are from the US, "Chips" are crispy snacks.

But in the UK, "Chips" are hot French fries.

Same word, different food.

Confusing, right?

Japan has these traps too.

The word is "Nageru".

Standard Japanese: "To throw" (like a baseball).

But in my hometown, Hokkaido, "Nageru" means:

"To discard" or "To throw in the trash".

Imagine you are in a Sapporo office.

Your boss hands you a pen and says:

"Keigo san, nagete" (Throw it away).

If you follow the textbook...

You pitch the pen across the room!

like Fastball!

Your boss gets angry.

He just wanted you to put it in the trash bin.

The Dangerous Language Trap

Imagine this scenario. You're in a Sapporo office. Your boss hands you a pen.

Your boss: "Keigo san, nagete" (Throw it) You: "Yes, of course!"

If you follow the textbook...

WHOOSH! You pitch the pen across the room like a fastball!

Your boss gets angry. "What are you doing?!"

He just wanted you to put it in the trash bin.

Standard Japanese vs. Hokkaido Dialect

Standard Japanese (Tokyo): "Nageru" = "To throw" (in the air, like a ball)

Example: 「野球やきゅうでボールを投なげます」 (I throw a baseball)

Hokkaido Dialect: "Nageru" = "To discard" / "To throw in the trash"

Example: 「ペンをなげて」 (Put that pen in the trash)

Why Location Matters

Language changes with location:

Region	Verb	Meaning	Usage
Tokyo (Standard)	Suteru (捨すてる)	To discard (formal)	Polite / Textbook
Hokkaido	Nageru (投なげる)	To discard (casual)	Daily / Local

Don't pitch the pen. Bin it. Understanding these local codes will save you from cultural accidents.

Quiz 1 ✏️ Practice Question ①

Think of your answer before opening the solution.

What does "nageru" really mean in each situation?

In Tokyo, your boss says: "Nagete kore" → What does he want?
In Hokkaido, your friend says: "Kono kuzzu o nagete" → What does he want?

💡 Show Answer

In Tokyo: "Throw this" (in the air - potential accident!)
In Hokkaido: "Discard this" (in the trash - what he really means)

Try more questions →

Episode 2: Namara Cold — How to Express Emotion with "Namara"

Example sentences

Namara means “very”

10 seconds

The example sentences, recorded one by one.

Read the transcript

今日きょうは、なまら寒さむいです。
It's super cold today.

とても寒さむいです。
It's very cold.

なまらおいしい！
It's super good!

とてもおいしいです。
It's very good.

Audio from the video

Listen to how namara intensifies an emotion

47 seconds

A clip from a short YouTube video, explanation included.

Read the transcript

"It is very good".

"It is very cold".

Stop talking like a textbook robot!

You need slang to show emotion.

In English you say: "Awesome", "Insane", "Wicked".

Let's upgrade your Japanese "Very".

Level 1: "Totemo" (Standard).

Safe, but boring.

Level 5: "Meccha" (Casual).

Very common.

Level 10: "NAMARA" (Hokkaido).

The ultimate power word!

Imagine, you are skiing in Niseko.

The snow is perfect.

Don't say "Totemo ii yuki da" (Very good snow).

The "Totemo" Problem

You've learned: "Totemo" = "Very"

"It is very good." "It is very cold." Perfect grammar...

But it sounds like a robot.

In real English, you don't say "Very good." You say:

"Awesome!"
"Insane!"
"Wicked!"

You need words with energy. Words with heart.

The Levels of "Very" in Japanese

Japanese has an emotional intensity scale:

Level	Word	Context	Power	Example
Level 1	Totemo (とても)	Standard / Textbook	Weak	"It's very good"
Level 5	Meccha (めっちゃ)	Casual / Friends	Medium	"It's meccha good!"
Level 10	NAMARA (なまら)	Hokkaido / Max energy	MAXIMUM	"It's NAMARA good!"

The Real Hokkaido Experience

Imagine. You're skiing in Niseko, Hokkaido. Winter. -10°C.

If you say: "Totemo samui desu" (It is very cold), nobody reacts. Nobody feels it.

But locals shout like this:

"Uaaah! NAMARA SAMUI!"

(It's insanely, brutally cold!)

The difference:

"Totemo" = Correct information, no soul
"NAMARA" = Real emotion, real connection

Using "Namara" in Real Life

Imagine you're at a ramen restaurant in Hokkaido. The chef hands you a perfect bowl.

What do you say?

Option A (Textbook Japanese):

"Totemo oishii desu" (It is very delicious) → Chef: "Thank you" (flat response)

Option B (Real Japanese - Hokkaido):

"NAMARA OISHII!" (It's insanely delicious!!) → Chef: "Oh! This guy understands Japan!" (He treats you like a friend, not a tourist)

The Magic of Language

Language is not just information. Language is emotion. Connection. Belonging.

When you use "NAMARA," you tell the local:

"I understand your place"
"I respect your culture"
"I want to belong here"

Episode 3: Shitakke! — The Warmest Goodbye of Hokkaido

Example sentences

Saying goodbye with shitakke

3 seconds

The example sentences, recorded one by one.

Read the transcript

したっけ！
See you!

うん、またね。
Yeah, see you later.

Audio from the video

Listen to the two uses of shitakke

54 seconds

A clip from a short YouTube video, explanation included.

Read the transcript

Stop saying "Sayonara" to your friends.

It sounds like "Goodbye forever".

It's too heavy and dramatic.

If you want to sound friendly and local,

use the Hokkaido word:

"Shitakke!"

"Shitakke" basically means "So..." or "Then...".

How does "So" become "Goodbye"?

Imagine you are leaving a party.

You slap your knees and say: "Right then!" before you stand up.

It signals the end.

"Shitakke" is exactly that "Right then!".

Let's practice.

Friend A: "That was fun!"

Friend B: "Yeah, see you!"

In Hokkaido:

A: "Shitakke!" (Right then!)

B: "Shitakke ne!" (See ya!)

It sounds warm and inclusive.

Language is about belonging.

The Problem With "Sayonara"

Stop saying "Sayonara" to your friends. It sounds like:

"Goodbye forever"

Too heavy. Too dramatic. Like a movie farewell.

In Hokkaido, we have something better. Softer. Warmer. More intimate.

What Does "Shitakke" Mean?

"Shitakke" (したっけ) originally means "So..." or "Then..." But in real life, it becomes "See you later, buddy!"

The Logic Behind the Word

How does "Then" become "Goodbye"?

It's the Japanese way of leaving the sentence incomplete:

Full thought: "Well, then I'm going..." What we say: "Then..." Result: "Shitakke!" (Then!)

It's like in English: "Right then!" (implying you're leaving) = goodbye

Two Uses of "Shitakke"

Use 1: Connecting conversations

A: "The cinema is far" B: "Shitakke, let's take a taxi" (So, let's take a taxi)

Use 2: Warm goodbye

A: "That was fun today!" B: "Yeah, totally!" A: "Shitakke!" B: "Shitakke ne!"

Quiz 2 ✏️ Practice: The Hokkaido Goodbye

Let's practice. Friends in Hokkaido:

Friend A: "That was amazing!"

Friend B: "Right? So much fun!"

Friend A: "Shitakke!" (See ya!)

Friend B: "Shitakke ne!" (See you soon!)

Note: The "ne" (ね) at the end adds warmth. It's like asking "right?" Makes it feel friendlier, more intimate.

Try more questions →

Comparison Table

Word	Meaning	Use	Feeling
Sayonara	Goodbye (forever)	Formal / Distant	Cold, dramatic
Ja ne	Well, goodbye	Casual / Friends	Normal, standard
Mata ne	See you	Close / Friends	Warm, hopeful
Shitakke	Then (goodbye)	Hokkaido / Friends	Very warm, local, rhythmic

Quiz 3 ✏️ Practice Question ③

You're leaving a party in Hokkaido. Complete the dialogue:

A: "That was incredible"

B: "Really, so much fun"

A: "_" (Hokkaido goodbye)

B: "_" (Friendly response)

Expected Answer:

A: "Shitakke!"

B: "Shitakke ne!"

Try more questions →

Summary: The Spirit of Hokkaido in 3 Words

The Hokkaido series is complete. You've learned 3 different words, but they all teach one lesson:

"Be local. Don't be a textbook robot."

Word	Concept	Lesson
Nageru	Language changes by region	Be flexible
Namara	Put emotion in your words	Be human
Shitakke	Connect with warmth	Be close

Language is not just correct grammar. Language is emotional connection.

If you learn like a textbook, you sound robotic. If you learn the heart behind the words, you sound like you belong.

▶️ Videos for this article:

Each video covers one Hokkaido expression from this article:

(1/3) Don't Throw! The "Nageru" Trap — The "nageru" trap (throw ≠ toss away)
(2/3) "NAMARA": The Power Word — Hokkaido's power word
(3/3) Stop Sayonara, Use "Shitakke" — How to say goodbye like a local

🎓 Want to Learn More?

On YouTube, I teach you the rules. On Preply, I teach you real life.

Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka... each region has its own personality. On Preply we practice:

When to use each word
How to sound natural, not robotic
The stories behind each word
How to connect with real Japanese people

Shitakke, see you on Preply!

I'm waiting for you!

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Shitakke ne! Chao chao! 👋✨