Car Rental & Driving

1. [日数] にちかん レンタカーや かいぶさいびーん。

   [Nissuu] nichikan rentakaa ya kaibusaibiin.

   I'd like to rent a car for [X] days.

   Usage

   Specify rental duration

   Grammar Note

   "To borrow, rent" is kayun (ka=juN, transitive, used when the same item is returned — houses included). Its stem is kai, as in the example 'jadu kaiga kurawa "if they came to borrow lodging". The desiderative is the suffix -busjaN ("want to; attaches to the verb stem"), giving kaibusan; the polite form follows -abi=juN, under which adjectives likewise go tuusan "far" to tuusaibiin "it is far", giving kaibusaibiin — the same shape as naraibusaibiin.

2. レンタルちんしんかい ぬーぬ くくまっちょーいびーが?

   Rentaru chinshin kai nuu nu kukumacchooi biiga?

   What's included in the rental price?

   Usage

   Ask what is included in rental price

   Grammar Note

   "Fee" is ciNsiN "charge, fee", i.e. chinshin. "Kukunun" is the Okinawan verb "to include"; "kukumacchoon" is its passive progressive. "Nuu" is the Okinawan word for "what"

3. GPS とぅ オートマチック ちちょーいびーみ？

   GPS tu ootomachikku chichooi biimi?

   Does it have GPS and automatic transmission?

   Usage

   Check car features/specs

   Grammar Note

   "chichoo" = progressive "attached/equipped" (from chichun). Items are listed with "tu", not the Japanese particle "ya" (as in "suroopu tu …")

4. ほけんぬ せんたくしや ぬーやいびーが?

   Hoken nu sentakushi ya nuu yaibii ga?

   What are the insurance options?

   Usage

   Ask about insurance types

   Grammar Note

   "Hoken" and "sentakushi" are Japanese loans. "Nuu" is the Okinawan word for "what"; the Japanese "nan" is not used

5. ガソリン まんたんかい してぃ けーちゃびーみ?

   Gasorin mantan kai shiti keechabiimi?

   Should I return it with a full tank?

   Usage

   Check fuel return policy

   Grammar Note

   Sentence-final "-mi" makes a yes/no question; its polite form is "-biimi". "Mantan" is the same word as Japanese "full tank"

6. そーこーきょりぬ せーげんや あいびーみ?

   Sookoo kyori nu seigen ya aibiimi?

   Is there a mileage limit?

   Usage

   Ask about mileage restrictions

   Grammar Note

   "aibiimi" = polite "is there?"

7. くるまんかい きじぬ あいびーん。 ほーこく しーぶさいびーん。

   Kuruma nkai kiji nu aibiin. Hookoku shiibusaibiin.

   I'd like to report a scratch / damage.

   Usage

   Report vehicle damage

   Grammar Note

   "kuruma nkai" = "on/to the car"

8. いちばん ちかさる ガソリンスタンドや まーかい やいびーが？

   Ichiban chikasaru gasorin sutando ya maakai yaibii ga?

   Where is the nearest gas station?

   Usage

   Ask for nearest gas station

   Grammar Note

   "Chikasan" means "near" and "chikasaru" is its attributive form; "maa" is the question word "where"

9. くぬくるまや こっきょー くぃーてぃ ちかーりーみ?

   Kunu kuruma ya kokkyoo kwiiti chikaariimi?

   Can I take this car across the border?

   Usage

   Check cross-border car use policy

   Grammar Note

   "Kwiiyun" is "to cross" and "chikayun" is "to use"; its potential form is "chikaariin"

10. こーつーけーさちんかい とぅまらっちゃいびーん。 ちゃーさびーが?

    Kootsuu keesachi nkai tumaracchaibiin. Chaa sabii ga?

    I've been stopped by traffic police. What should I do?

    Usage

    Ask what to do when stopped by police

    Grammar Note

    "Tumayun" is "to stop". "Chaa" is the Okinawan question word for manner, so "chaa sabii ga" means "what should I do?"

11. くぬみちんかい ゆーりょーどーろや あいびーみ?

    Kunu michi nkai yuuryoo dooro ya aibiimi?

    Are there toll roads on this route?

    Usage

    Check for toll roads

    Grammar Note

    "aibiimi" = polite "is there?"

12. くまんかい ちゅーしゃぬルールや ぬーやいびーが?

    Kuma nkai chuusha nu ruuru ya nuu yaibii ga?

    What are the parking rules here?

    Usage

    Ask about local parking rules

    Grammar Note

    "kuma nkai" = "here at"

13. くるまや エンジン かかりーびらん。

    Kuruma ya enjin kakariibiran.

    The car won't start.

    Usage

    Report car trouble

    Grammar Note

    "-biran" is the polite negative ending

14. ふぇーく へんきゃく しーぶさいびーん。

    Feeku henkyaku shiibusaibiin.

    I'd like to return the car early.

    Usage

    Request early vehicle return

    Grammar Note

    The desiderative is the suffix -busjaN ("want to", attached to a verb stem); the stem of sjuN "to do" is sii, giving shiibusan. Examples: biNcooja siibusikoo neeNkutu saN ("I will not study because I do not want to") and siibusjahuNdee ("doing as one pleases"). The polite form replaces the ending with -saibiin, as with any adjective: shiibusaibiin, the same shape as naraibusaibiin.

15. チャイルドシートや あいびーみ?

    Chairudo shiito ya aibiimi?

    Do you have a child seat available?

    Usage

    Ask about child seat availability

    Grammar Note

    "aibiimi" = polite "is there?"

16. でんきじどーしゃや あいびーみ？

    Denki jidoosha ya aibiimi?

    Do you have an electric car?

    Usage

    Ask about electric or hybrid availability

    Grammar Note

    "aibiimi" = polite "is there?"

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