Contacts & SNS

1. なめーや ぬーやいびーが？

   Na-mee ya nuu yai-bii-ga?

   What is your name?

   Usage

   Politely asking someone's name when meeting for the first time

   Grammar Note

   Namee is "a person's name", distinguished from naa, used for the names of things; this card asks a person, so namee is correct. Nuu is the Ryukyuan question word for "what"; yaibiiga forms the polite question

2. まーから ちゃーびたが？

   Maa-ka-ra chaa-bi-ta-ga?

   Where are you from?

   Usage

   Asking a traveler or new acquaintance where they are from

   Grammar Note

   Maakara means "from where"; chaabitaga is the question form of chaabitan, the polite past of chuun (to come), with the same stem as chaabiran and chaabira

3. ゆたしく、わんにん うちなーんかい ちゃーびら

   Yu-ta-shi-ku, wan-nin u-chi-naa n-kai chaa-bi-ra

   Nice to meet you — I'll come to Okinawa again too

   Usage

   A friendly closing after exchanging contacts — promising to return to Okinawa

   Grammar Note

   Yutashiku is the Ryukyuan counterpart of "yoroshiku" (an adverbial form of yutasan, good); uchinaa-nkai is "to Okinawa". Chaabira is the polite form of chuun (to come), the same word as in the farewell "mata chaabira"

4. らいんぬいーじかわさびら？

   Ra-in nu ii-ji ka-wa-sa-bi-ra?

   Shall we exchange LINE IDs?

   Usage

   Politely asking to exchange LINE IDs — the most popular messaging app in Japan

   Grammar Note

   Kawasabira combines "to exchange" and the polite invitation suffix sabira

5. なーかい れんらくさびら

   Naa-kai ren-ra-ku sa-bi-ra

   Let's keep in touch

   Usage

   A warm farewell phrase promising to stay in contact

   Grammar Note

   Naakai means "again"; sabira turns the phrase into a polite "let's" suggestion

6. わんや うちなーんかい うーいびーん

   Wan ya u-chi-naa n-kai uu-i-biin

   I live in Okinawa

   Usage

   Formally stating where you live during self-introduction

   Grammar Note

   Uuibiin is the polite form of "to be/reside"; the copula yaibiin is not stacked on the verb. Wan is the Ryukyuan first person pronoun

7. でんわばんごーや ぬーやいびーが？

   Den-wa ban-goo ya nuu yai-bii-ga?

   What is your phone number?

   Usage

   Politely asking for someone's phone number

   Grammar Note

   Denwa bangoo is borrowed from Japanese; yaibiiga converts it to a polite question form

8. メールー くぃみそーれー

   Mee-ruu kwi-mi-soo-ree

   Please send me an email

   Usage

   Politely asking someone to send an email

   Grammar Note

   Kwimisooree is the Ryukyuan polite request form equivalent to "please give/do"; appropriate for superiors

9. インスタグラム やいびーが？

   In-su-ta-gu-ra-mu yai-bii-ga?

   Are you on Instagram?

   Usage

   Politely asking if someone uses Instagram

   Grammar Note

   Insutaguramuu is the Ryukyuan phonetic form of "Instagram"; yaibiiga forms the polite question

10. わんにん わすりらんたん、にふぇーでーびる

    Wan-nin wa-su-ri-ran-tan, ni-fee-dee-bi-ru

    I will never forget you, thank you

    Usage

    A heartfelt farewell expressing unforgettable memories and deep gratitude

    Grammar Note

    Nifeediibiru is the most formal Ryukyuan expression of gratitude; ideal for sincere farewell and deep thanks

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