Body Parts

1. どぅー

   Duu

   Body / oneself

   Usage

   The body, and also "oneself". "Duu-chui" means "by oneself"

2. ちぶる

   Chi-bu-ru

   Head

   Usage

   A native Okinawan word, unrelated in form to Japanese "atama". "Chiburu nu yamasan" means "my head hurts"

3. からじ

   Ka-ra-ji

   Hair

   Usage

   A native Okinawan word. The Ryukyu Kingdom's male topknot, "katakashira", comes from it

4. ちら

   Chi-ra

   Face

   Usage

   A native Okinawan word. "Chira-kaagii" means one's looks or features

5. みー

   Mii

   Eye

   Usage

   Corresponds to Japanese "me", but Okinawan lengthens the vowel to "mii"

6. みみ

   Mi-mi

   Ear

   Usage

   The ear — one of the few body words that keeps the same shape as in Japanese

7. はな

   Ha-na

   Nose

   Usage

   The nose. A flower is also "hana", so point at your nose while showing this

8. くち

   Ku-chi

   Mouth

   Usage

   The mouth — for showing where the problem is at the dentist or ENT

9. はー

   Haa

   Tooth

   Usage

   The lengthened counterpart of Japanese "ha". Point at the aching tooth at the dentist

10. くび

    Ku-bi

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck. The throat inside is separately "nuudii"

11. ぬーでぃー

    Nuu-dii

    Throat

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word, quite unlike Japanese "nodo". Point here for pain when swallowing

12. かた

    Ka-ta

    Shoulder

    Usage

    The shoulder — for saying where you want a massage or a treatment

13. うでぃ

    U-di

    Arm

    Usage

    Okinawan shifts Japanese "e" sounds to "i", so "ude" becomes "udi"

14. ふぃじげー

    Fi-ji-gee

    Elbow

    Usage

    Okinawan turns Japanese "hi" into "fi" (fire = fii, noon = firu), but the word for elbow is hwizikee / hwizigee. Bare hwizi is a different word — beard, or a reply — so the ending must stay

15. てぃー

    Tii

    Hand

    Usage

    Okinawan turns "te" into "tii". The old name of Okinawan karate, "ti", is this same word

16. いーび

    Ii-bi

    Finger

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word corresponding to Japanese "yubi"

17. ちみ

    Chi-mi

    Nail

    Usage

    Okinawan turns Japanese "tsu" into "chi", so "tsume" becomes "chimi"

18. んに

    N-ni

    Chest

    Usage

    Starting a word with "n" is characteristic of Okinawan. Chest pain or breathlessness is urgent — show a doctor at once

19. わた

    Wa-ta

    Belly

    Usage

    The belly, cognate with the old Japanese "wata" (entrails). "Wata nu yamasan" means "my stomach hurts"

20. くし

    Ku-shi

    Back

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word, also carrying the sense of "behind" — "kushi nkai" means "to the back"

21. がまく

    Ga-ma-ku

    Waist

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word, sharing nothing with Japanese "koshi". In eisa drumming and Ryukyuan dance, "putting in the gamaku" is how they describe using the waist

22. ちび

    Chi-bi

    Buttocks

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word. It sounds blunt, so keep it to medical situations

23. むむ

    Mu-mu

    Thigh

    Usage

    Okinawan shifts Japanese "o" sounds to "u", so "momo" becomes "mumu"

24. ちんし

    Chin-shi

    Knee

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word. "Chinshi-kami" is the formal kneeling posture

25. ふぃさ

    Hi-sa

    Foot / leg

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word, unlike Japanese "ashi". The knee is "chinshi" and the thigh "mumu"

26. かー

    Kaa

    Skin

    Usage

    Skin or hide — for sunburn and insect bites. "Chura-kaagii" describes someone fair-skinned and good-looking

27. ふに

    Fu-ni

    Bone

    Usage

    Okinawan turns "hone" into "funi" — but "boat" is also "funi", so point at yourself when you mean the bone

28. ちー

    Chii

    Blood

    Usage

    Blood — point at it when you are bleeding

29. ちむ

    Chi-mu

    Liver / heart (as the seat of feeling)

    Usage

    One of the most important words in Okinawan. It is the liver as an organ, and equally the seat of feeling — the root of "chimugukuru" (heart and soul) and "chimugurisan" (heartsore for someone)

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