Markets & Souvenirs

1. くりや ちゃっさ やいびーが？

   Kuri ya chassa yaibii ga?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic price inquiry at a market

   Grammar Note

   "yaibii ga" is the polite question form

2. でーにや やしみらりーみ？

   Deeni ya yashimirarimi?

   Can I bargain the price?

   Usage

   Bargaining at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Deeni" means "price, cost" (example: deenee caaga. "how much is it?"). Cutting a price is yashimiyun ('jaSimijuN), and yashimirarimi is its potential form; makiyun (makijuN) is "to lose" in a contest.

3. [値段] ならば こーいびーん。

   [Nedan] naraba kooibiin.

   I'll buy it for [price].

   Usage

   Propose a counter price

   Grammar Note

   "Kooyun" is the Okinawan verb "to buy"; its polite form is "kooibiin", a different stem from Japanese "kau"

4. なーふぃん やしみらりーみ？

   Naa-fin ya-shi-mi-ra-ri-mi?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   Request a discount

   Grammar Note

   "More" is naafin (naahwiN; e.g. naahwiN kwimisjoori "give me more"). The hwi is the fi sound — Okinawan has no plain hi. Mootu (muutu) means "origin, capital" and never "more". Cutting a price is yashimiyun ('jaSimijuN); makiyun (makijuN) is "to lose" as in losing a contest

5. くりや てぃーちゅくい やいびーみ？

   Kuri ya tiichukui yaibii mi?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Verify if item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Tii" is "hand" and "chukui" is the stem of "chukuyun" (to make)

6. くぬ そざいや ぬーっし ちゅくとーいびーが？

   Kunu sozai ya nuu-Qshi chukutooi biiga?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Ask about material composition

   Grammar Note

   "What" is nuu, and the instrumental "with/by" is -Qshi (-Qsi), giving nuu-Qshi "out of what". Written short as nuushi it becomes a different word, nuusi "owner, master"

7. プレゼントよーんかい ちちでぃ もらりーみ？

   Purezento yoo nkai chichidi morarimi?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Request gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "morarimi" = "could you do for me?"

8. よいちや まーにあいびーが？

   Yoichi ya maa-ni a-i-bii-ga?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Ask for night market location

   Grammar Note

   "X-ya maa-ni aibiiga?" is the pattern for "where is X?". "Maa" = where; a question word, so it ends in "-ga". "Yoichi" names the night-market event; no native Okinawan word for it is confirmed

9. レシートや もらりーみ？

   Reshiito ya morarimi?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Ask for receipt

   Grammar Note

   "morarimi" = "could I receive?"

10. まちぬ あきじかんや なんどぅちやいびーが？

    Machi nu aki jikan ya nanduchi yaibii ga?

    What are the market opening hours?

    Usage

    Ask about market hours

    Grammar Note

    "Machi" is the Okinawan word for a market. "What time" is nanduchi (naNduci); the Japanese-looking "nanji" collides with naNzi "hardship" and is avoided

11. みーちょーびーん、にふぇーでーびる。

    Miichoobiin, nifeedeebiru.

    I'm just looking, thank you.

    Usage

    Politely decline sales pressure

    Grammar Note

    "mii" = "see" in Okinawan

12. カードんかい はらーりーみ？

    Kaado nkai haraarimi?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Check if card payment accepted

    Grammar Note

    "nkai" is a directional case particle

13. くりや みやーぎんかい こーいびーん。

    Kuri ya myaagi nkai kooibiin.

    I'm buying this as a souvenir.

    Usage

    Buy as souvenir

    Grammar Note

    "nkai" can also indicate purpose

14. くりや かいがいんかい うくらりーみ？

    Kuri ya kaigai nkai ukurarimi?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Check international shipping

    Grammar Note

    "-rarii" is the polite potential form

15. くぬまちやーぬ いちばん ゆたさるむぬや ぬーやいびーが？

    Kunu machiyaa nu ichiban yutasaru munu ya nuu yaibii ga?

    What's your best item?

    Usage

    Ask for the store's best item

    Grammar Note

    "Yutasaru" is the attributive form of "yutasan" (good); "ichiban yutasaru" means "best"

16. くぬでーにや たかさいびーん。

    Kunu deeni ya takasaibiin.

    This is too expensive.

    Usage

    Say something is too expensive

    Grammar Note

    "takasaibiin" is the polite adjective form

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