Feelings

1. うっさん

   Us-san

   Glad

   Usage

   Okinawan adjectives end in "-san". The noun form "ussa" means joy

2. がんじゅー

   Gan-juu

   In good health

   Usage

   From the Sino-Japanese "ganjō" (sturdy) — the everyday Okinawan word for being well. "Ganjuu yamiseemi?" asks how someone is

3. うむさん

   U-mu-san

   Fun / interesting

   Usage

   Corresponds to Japanese "omoshiroi". Okinawan shifts "o" to "u", giving the "umu-" opening

4. ちむだかさん

   Chi-mu-da-ka-san

   Uplifted / deeply moved

   Usage

   Literally "the liver stands tall" — a characteristically Okinawan blend of pride and emotion, for how eisa drumming or classical music makes you feel

5. ちむぐりさん

   Chi-mu-gu-ri-san

   Heartsore for someone

   Usage

   Literally "the liver aches" — feeling another person's misfortune as your own pain. Often cited as the word that captures Okinawan sensibility

6. ちむわさわさー

   Chi-mu-wa-sa-wa-saa

   Uneasy / restless inside

   Usage

   Literally "the liver rustles" — the unsettled feeling of a bad premonition, as before a typhoon

7. ちるだい

   Chi-ru-dai

   Hollow / deflated

   Usage

   The emptiness after a disappointment, or after something important has ended. Chirudai sun means "to be let down"

   Grammar Note

   Cirudai: "disappointment, dejection — literally the sinews of the whole body going slack from letdown", with ~sjuN "to be let down". Also cidai ("dejection"). It is a noun. chimufugasan is a literal coinage from "a hole in the liver" and is not used.

8. かなさんどー

   Ka-na-san-doo

   I love you

   Usage

   "Kanasan" (dear, beloved) with the emphatic "-doo". Warm enough for a partner, a family member or a child

9. なちかさん

   Na-chi-ka-san

   Sad

   Usage

   A native Okinawan word. It shares a root with Japanese "natsukashii" (nostalgic), but in Okinawan it means sad

10. しからーさん

    Shi-ka-raa-san

    Lonely

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word for missing people and the sadness of parting — a staple of folk-song lyrics

11. くさみちゅん

    Ku-sa-mi-chun

    To get angry

    Usage

    Safer used about your own state or the situation than aimed at a person

    Grammar Note

    wajun is 'wazi=juN "to boil, to come to the boil", not "to get angry". "To get angry" is kusami=cuN, i.e. kusamichun, glossed "to be angry, to be indignant".

12. うとぅるさん

    U-tu-ru-san

    Frightening

    Usage

    Corresponds to Japanese "osoroshii" — heard often in talk of habu snakes and typhoons

13. しわ

    Shi-wa

    Worry

    Usage

    A native Okinawan word. "Shiwaa shee naran" means "no need to worry" — a common reassurance

14. はじかさん

    Ha-ji-ka-san

    Embarrassed / shy

    Usage

    Corresponds to Japanese "hazukashii", covering both shyness and awkward apology

15. あわてぃーはーてぃー

    A-wa-tii-haa-tii

    In a flap

    Usage

    A characteristically Okinawan reduplication for running about in a panic. Natural said with a laugh about yourself; aimed at someone else it teases

16. くたんでぃとーん

    Ku-tan-di-toon

    Worn out

    Usage

    A native Okinawan expression. The "-toon" ending marks a continuing state, like "-te iru" in Japanese

17. にんじぶさん

    Nin-ji-bu-san

    Sleepy

    Usage

    Corresponds to Japanese "nemui" — after an early flight or a late night watching eisa. niNzibusjaN ("sleepy, drowsy, wanting to sleep") is ninji- plus the desiderative -busan

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