Okinawan phrasebook

Okinawan (ウチナーグチ, Uchinaaguchi) is one of the ethnic languages of Okinawa, Japan. Okinawan is mutually unintelligible with standard Japanese, some people say its a dialect while others say its a different own language, but most people living in Okinawa understand Japanese, so don't fear. Some words have slightly different pronunciations depending on gender, like hello! はいたい!

Pronunciation guide

There is no standard way of writing the language. Hiragana and kanji have both been used in the past, and American and Japanese scholars have tried to get katakana and the Latin alphabet used. Kanji and hiragana remain more popular as of the first half of the 21st century.

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN CLOSED ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH PULL TOILET MEN WOMEN FORBIDDEN

Hello.

今日拝なびら。 (chū wuganabira): はいさい (haisai - for men): はいたい (haitai - for women)

How are you?

がんじゅーやみせーみ？ (ganju yamisemi?)

Fine, thank you.

ちくんやいびーん (chikun yaibin)

What is your name?

名前や何やいびーが？ (namaeya nanyaibīga?)

My name is ______ .

我名前や ______ やいびーん。 (yayvīm)

Nice to meet you.

はじみてぃやーさい (hajimitēyāsai)

Please.

うにげえさびら (unigēsabira)

Thank you.

でーびーる (Nifee Deebiiru): どー (Nifee doo)

You're welcome.

ぐぶりーさびたん (gubrīsabitam)

Yes.

うー (oo )

No.

をぅーをぅー (wou wou)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

さびたん (guburii sabitan): さびら (guburii sabira)

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

わっさいびーん (wassaibīm)

I'm sorry.

わっさいびーたん (wassaibītam)

I'm sorry. (informal)

わっさいびーん (wassaibīm)

Goodbye

またやーさい (matayāsai)

Goodbye (informal)

ぐぶりーさびら (guburīsabira)

I can't speak name of language [well].

うちなーぐち[ゆー]話さらびらん。 (...)

Do you speak English?

亜米利加口話さらびーが？ (Amerika guchi hanasarabīga?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

... (...)

Help!

助きー！ (Tashikī!)

Look out!

うかーさん！ (Ukāsan!, The "ā" is the pronunciation of the "A" in Amen.)

Good morning.

起きみそーち (okimisōchi)

Good evening. (man)

はいさい (Haisai)

Good evening. (woman)

はいたい (Haitai)

Good night. (man)

はいさい (Haisai)

Good night. (woman)

はいたい (Haitai)

Good night (to sleep)

にんじみそーれー (Ninjimi sōrē)

I don't understand.

わかやびらん (wakayabiran)

Where is the toilet?

... (...)

Problems

Leave me alone.

... (...)

Don't touch me!

触んな！ (sānna!)

I'll call the police.

... (...)

Police!

警察！ (Kīsachi!)

Stop! Thief!

待てー！ぬする！ (Matē! Nusuru!)

I need your help.

助きーくぃみそーれ。 (Tashikī kuimisōre, The "i" in "kui" is pronounced small.)

It's an emergency.

... (...)

I'm lost.

... (...)

I lost my bag.

... (...)

I lost my wallet.

... (...)

I'm sick.

病あびーん。 (...)

I've been injured.

... (...)

I need a doctor.

... (...)

Can I use your phone?

... (...)

Numbers

Usually any number greater than 10 is called いっぱい (ippai).

Numbers past 10 use the Japenese number system

1

てぃーち (tiichi)

2

たーち (taachi):

3

みーち (miichi)

4

ゆーち (yuuchi)

5

いちち (ichichi)

6

むーち (muuchi)

7

ななち (nanachi)

8

やーち (yaachi)

9

くくぬち (kukunuchi)

10

とぅー (tuu)

11

じゅういち (...)

12

じゅうに (...)

13

じゅうさん (...)

14

じゅうよん (...)

15

じゅうご (...)

16

じゅうろく (...)

17

じゅうなな (...)

18

じゅうはち (...)

19

じゅうく (...)

20

にじゅう (...)

21

にじゅういち (...)

22

にじゅうに (...)

23

にじゅうさん (...)

30

さんじゅう (...)

40

よんじゅう (...)

50

ごじゅう (...)

60

ろくじゅう (...)

70

ななじゅう (...)

80

はちじゅう (...)

90

きゅうじゅう (...)

100

... (...)

200

... (...)

300

... (...)

1000

... (...)

2000

... (...)

1,000,000

... (...)

1,000,000,000

... (...)

1,000,000,000,000

... (...)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

... (...)

half

... (...)

less

... (...)

more

... (...)

Time

now

今 (...)

later

... (...)

before

... (...)

morning

朝 (...)

afternoon

昼間 (...)

evening

... (...)

night

... (...)

Clock time

one o'clock AM

... (...)

two o'clock AM

... (...)

noon

... (...)

one o'clock PM

... (...)

two o'clock PM

... (...)

midnight

... (...)

Duration

_____ minute(s)

... (...)

_____ hour(s)

... (...)

_____ day(s)

... (...)

_____ week(s)

... (...)

_____ month(s)

... (...)

_____ year(s)

... (...)

Days

today

... (...)

yesterday

... (...)

tomorrow

... (...)

this week

... (...)

last week

... (...)

next week

... (...)

Sunday

... (...)

Monday

... (...)

Tuesday

... (...)

Wednesday

... (...)

Thursday

... (...)

Friday

... (...)

Saturday

... (...)

Months

January

... (...)

February

... (...)

March

... (...)

April

... (...)

May

... (...)

June

... (...)

July

... (...)

August

... (...)

September

... (...)

October

... (...)

November

... (...)

December

... (...)

Colors

black

クルー (...)

white

シルー (...)

gray

フェーイル (...)

red

アカー (...)

blue

オールー (...)

yellow

キールー (...)

green

ミドゥリ (...)

orange

... (...)

purple

ムラサチ (...)

brown

ンミイル (...)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

ちゃっさやいびーが？ (...)

One ticket to _____, please.

... (...)

Where does this train/bus go?

... (...)

Where is the train/bus to _____?

... (...)

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

... (...)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

... (...)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

... (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

... (...)

...the train station?

... (...)

...the bus station?

... (...)

...the airport?

... (...)

...downtown?

... (...)

...the youth hostel?

... (...)

...the _____ hotel?

... (...)

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

... (...)

Where are there a lot of...

... (...)

...hotels?

ヤール (...)

...restaurants?

... (...)

...bars?

... (...)

...sites to see?

... (...)

Can you show me on the map?

... (...)

street

... (...)

Turn left.

... (...)

Turn right.

... (...)

left

... (...)

right

... (...)

straight ahead

... (...)

towards the _____

... (...)

past the _____

... (...)

before the _____

... (...)

in front of the _____

... (...)

behind the _____

... (...)

Watch for the _____.

... (...)

intersection

... (...)

inside

... (...)

outside

... (...)

north

... (...)

south

... (...)

east

... (...)

west

... (...)

uphill

... (...)

downhill

... (...)

Taxi

Taxi!

... (...)

Take me to _____, please.

... (...)

How much does it cost to get to _____?

... (...)

Take me there, please.

... (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

... (...)

How much is a room for one person/two people?

... (...)

Does the room come with...

... (...)

...bedsheets?

... (...)

...a bathroom?

... (...)

...a telephone?

... (...)

...a TV?

... (...)

May I see the room first?

... (...)

Do you have anything quieter?

... (...)

...bigger?

... (...)

...cleaner?

... (...)

...cheaper?

... (...)

OK, I'll take it.

... (...)

I will stay for _____ night(s).

... (...)

Can you suggest another hotel?

... (...)

Do you have a safe?

... (...)

...lockers?

... (...)

Is breakfast/supper included?

... (...)

What time is breakfast/supper?

... (...)

Please clean my room.

... (...)

Can you wake me at _____?

... (...)

I want to check out.

... (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

... (...)

Do you accept British pounds?

... (...)

Do you accept credit cards?

... (...)

Can you change money for me?

... (...)

Where can I get money changed?

... (...)

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

... (...)

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

... (...)

What is the exchange rate?

... (...)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

... (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

... (...)

Can I look at the menu, please?

... (...)

Can I look in the kitchen?

... (...)

Is there a house specialty?

... (...)

Is there a local specialty?

... (...)

I'm a vegetarian.

... (...)

I don't eat pork.

... (...)

I don't eat beef.

... (...)

I only eat kosher food.

... (...)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

... (...)

fixed-price meal

... (...)

a la carte

... (...)

breakfast

ヒティミティムン (...)

lunch

アサバン (...)

tea (meal)

... (...)

supper

... (...)

I want _____.

... (...)

I want a dish containing _____.

... (...)

chicken

... (...)

beef

... (...)

fish

イユ (...)

ham

... (...)

sausage

... (...)

cheese

... (...)

eggs

... (...)

salad

... (...)

(fresh) vegetables

... (...)

(fresh) fruit

... (...)

bread

... (...)

toast

... (...)

noodles

... (...)

rice

... (...)

beans

... (...)

May I have a glass of _____?

... (...)

May I have a cup of _____?

... (...)

May I have a bottle of _____?

... (...)

coffee

... (...)

tea (drink)

... (...)

juice

... (...)

(bubbly) water

... (...)

water

ミジ (...)

beer

... (...)

red/white wine

... (...)

May I have some _____?

... (...)

salt

まーす (...)

black pepper

... (...)

butter

... (...)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

... (...)

I'm finished.

... (...)

It was delicious.

... (...)

Please clear the plates.

... (...)

The check, please.

... (...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

... (...)

Is there table service?

... (...)

A beer/two beers, please.

... (...)

A glass of red/white wine, please.

... (...)

A pint, please.

... (...)

A bottle, please.

... (...)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

... (...)

whiskey

... (...)

vodka

... (...)

rum

... (...)

water

ミジ (...)

club soda

... (...)

tonic water

... (...)

orange juice

クニブジュース (...)

Coke (soda)

... (...)

Do you have any bar snacks?

... (...)

One more, please.

... (...)

Another round, please.

... (...)

When is closing time?

... (...)

Cheers!

... (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

... (...)

How much is this?

... (...)

That's too expensive.

... (...)

Would you take _____?

... (...)

expensive

... (...)

cheap

... (...)

I can't afford it.

... (...)

I don't want it.

... (...)

You're cheating me.

... (...)

I'm not interested.

... (..)

OK, I'll take it.

... (...)

Can I have a bag?

... (...)

Do you ship (overseas)?

... (...)

I need...

... (...)

...toothpaste.

... (...)

...a toothbrush.

... (...)

...tampons.

... (...)

...soap.

... (...)

...shampoo.

... (...)

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

... (...)

...cold medicine.

... (...)

...stomach medicine.

... (...)

...a razor.

... (...)

...an umbrella.

... (...)

...sunblock lotion.

... (...)

...a postcard.

... (...)

...postage stamps.

... (...)

...batteries.

... (...)

...writing paper.

... (...)

...a pen.

... (...)

...English-language books.

... (...)

...English-language magazines.

... (...)

...an English-language newspaper.

... (...)

...an English-English dictionary.

... (...)

Driving

I want to rent a car.

... (...)

Can I get insurance?

... (...)

stop (on a street sign)

... (...)

one way

... (...)

yield

... (...)

no parking

... (...)

speed limit

... (...)

gas (petrol) station

... (...)

petrol

... (...)

diesel

... (...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

... (...)

It was a misunderstanding.

... (...)

Where are you taking me?

... (...)

Am I under arrest?

... (...)

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

... (...)

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

... (...)

I want to talk to a lawyer.

... (...)

Can I just pay a fine now?

... (...)