Dating & Romance

1. いっしょに ゆくい んかい いちゃびらに？

   Is-sho-ni yu-ku-i n-kai i-cha-bi-ra-ni?

   Would you like to go for a break together?

   Usage

   Used to invite someone out casually in Ryukyuan

   Grammar Note

   ?icuN is "go" and ?icabira is "let us go"; adding the final particle ni makes ichabirani a polite invitation.

2. ちゅらさん でーびーんどー

   Chu-ra-san dee-biin-doo

   You are beautiful.

   Usage

   Used to compliment someone on their beauty in Ryukyuan

   Grammar Note

   "Churasan" is the Okinawan adjective for beautiful. "Doo" is an emphatic sentence-final particle.

3. うみんかい いちゃびらに？

   U-min-kai i-cha-bi-ra-ni?

   Would you like to go to the sea?

   Usage

   Used to invite someone to the sea in Ryukyuan

   Grammar Note

   Umi (sea) is the same as standard Japanese and nkai is the directional particle. The verb for "go" is ?icuN, with ichabirani as the polite invitation.

4. うんじゅ いちゃてぃ うっさいびーん

   Un-ju i-cha-ti us-sa-i-biin

   I am happy to meet you.

   Usage

   Used to express happiness at meeting someone

   Grammar Note

   "You" is unju (?uNzu, the second person used politely toward a superior or a stranger of equal rank; nunju for someone higher still). For a junior, use yaa (?jaa). Naa (naa) means "name", "rope" or "leaf vegetable" and is never a pronoun. Ichati is the te-form of "to meet"; ussaibiin is the polite form of "glad".

5. うんじゅ ぬ すちー ぬー やいびーが？

   Un-ju nu su-chii nuu yai-bii-ga?

   What do you like?

   Usage

   Used to ask about someone's likes or preferences

   Grammar Note

   "You" is unju (?uNzu); naa means "name", "rope" or "leaf vegetable" and is never a pronoun. Suchii is the Okinawan form of suki "liking", and nuu is "what".

6. いっしょに うちなーすば かまびらに？

   Is-sho-ni u-chi-naa-su-ba ka-ma-bi-ra-ni?

   Would you like to eat Okinawa soba together?

   Usage

   Used to invite someone out for a meal of Okinawa soba

   Grammar Note

   "Kamabirani" is the polite Ryukyuan invitation to eat. "Uchinaa-suba" is Okinawa's iconic noodle dish.

7. でんわ ばんごー ならーち くぃみそーれー

   Den-wa ban-goo na-raa-chi kwi-mi-soo-ree

   Could you please give me your phone number?

   Usage

   Used to politely ask for someone's phone number

   Grammar Note

   "Naraachi kwimisoree" is the highest honorific request form in Ryukyuan.

8. うんじゅんかい すちさびーん

   Un-ju n-kai su-chi sa-biin

   I like you.

   Usage

   Used to express romantic or personal interest in someone

   Grammar Note

   "Unjunkai" means "to you" in Ryukyuan. "Suchisabiin" is the polite form of "suki" (like).

9. にふぇー

   Ni-fee

   Thank you for the date.

   Usage

   Used to thank someone after a date

   Grammar Note

   Nifee is the casual thanks corresponding to nihwee. Kwacchiisabitan means "thank you for the meal" and cannot express general thanks for a date.

10. またー いちゃびらに？

    Ma-taa i-cha-bi-ra-ni?

    Shall we meet again?

    Usage

    Used to suggest meeting again when parting

    Grammar Note

    "Mataa" is the Ryukyuan form of "mata" (again). "Ichabirani" is the polite invitation to meet.

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