Basic Nouns

1. みじ

   Mi-ji

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with a gesture

2. くぇーむん

   Kwee-mun

   Food

   Usage

   The general word to use when you are looking for something to eat

3. じん

   Jin

   Money

   Usage

   The basic word when talking about paying or changing money

4. ふーる

   Fuu-ru

   Toilet

   Usage

   This single word is usually enough for someone to point the way

5. かび

   Ka-bi

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking for paper at an eatery or a public toilet

   Grammar Note

   Paper; also used for tissue

6. くすい

   Ku-sui

   Medicine

   Usage

   The general word to lead with at a pharmacy

7. にむち

   Ni-mu-chi

   Luggage

   Usage

   For storing, carrying, or collecting your bags

8. さーしぬっくゎ

   Saa-shi-nu-kkwa

   Key

   Usage

   At a hotel front desk when handing over or collecting a key

   Grammar Note

   Kagi means "a chip, a missing piece, an absentee" — not a key. The word for key is saaSinuQkwa "key, the thing inserted into a lock".

9. ちっぷ

   Chip-pu

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both travel tickets and entry tickets

10. パスポート

    Pa-su-poo-to

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, money changers, and immigration

11. でんわ

    Den-wa

    Phone

    Usage

    Used both for the device and for making a call

12. じゅうでんき

    Juu-den-ki

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one

13. えき

    E-ki

    Station

    Usage

    The most common landmark word when asking for directions

14. びょーいん

    Byoo-in

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word to say when you feel seriously unwell

15. けーさち

    Kee-sa-chi

    Police

    Usage

    Who to ask for after a theft or an accident

    Grammar Note

    Okinawan has no /tsu/, so the spelling is keesachi. There is also ciiSaCi "police", but it was a word used only briefly in the early Meiji period and is no longer understood today.

16. まちやー

    Ma-chi-yaa

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when asking where you can buy something

17. へや

    He-ya

    Room

    Usage

    For booking, changing, or checking availability at a hotel

18. みち

    Mi-chi

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, usually while showing a map

19. やーにんじゅ

    Yaa-nin-ju

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up constantly in introductions and small talk

    Grammar Note

    yaa (house) + ninju (people) = family

20. なー

    Naa

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. ちぶる

    Chi-bu-ru

    Head

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

22. みー

    Mii

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

23. はー

    Haa

    Tooth

    Usage

    Use at a dentist or pharmacy to show where it hurts

24. わた

    Wa-ta

    Stomach / Belly

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

25. くし

    Ku-shi

    Back

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

26. がまく

    Ga-ma-ku

    Lower back / Waist

    Usage

    Use for lower-back pain, as distinct from the upper back

27. ふぃさ

    Hwi-sa

    Leg / Foot

    Usage

    Point at your own leg or foot to narrow down which part you mean

28. てぃー

    Tii

    Hand

    Usage

    Point at your own hand while showing the card

29. んに

    N-ni

    Chest

    Usage

    Use for chest pain or tightness (the chest, anatomically)

30. みみ

    Mi-mi

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

31. くび

    Ku-bi

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

32. かた

    Ka-ta

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

33. いーび

    Ii-bi

    Finger

    Usage

    Point at the injured or painful finger while showing the card

34. かー

    Kaa

    Skin

    Usage

    Use when reporting a rash, itching, or sunburn

35. はな

    Ha-na

    Nose

    Usage

    Use when reporting a blocked or running nose

36. ちんし

    Chin-shi

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

37. ぬーでぃー

    Nuu-dii

    Throat

    Usage

    Point at it to report a sore throat or trouble swallowing

38. うでぃ

    U-di

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at the body part card to show where it hurts

Browse all TravelPhrases languages