Photography

1. しゃしん とぅてぃ いいびーみ？

   Sha-shin tu-ti ii-bii-mi?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Used to ask permission to take a photograph

   Grammar Note

   "Iibimi" is the polite question form of "ii" (good/okay) in Ryukyuan, used to ask permission.

2. まじゅん しゃしん とぅいびら

   Ma-jun sha-shin tu-i-bi-ra

   Let's take a photo together.

   Usage

   Used to suggest taking a photo together

   Grammar Note

   Together is mazuN ('jaQciitu～?icuN, "to go with one's elder brother"). Tuibira is the polite hortative of tujuN, to take.

3. わったー ぬ しゃしん とぅてぃ くぃみそーれー

   Wat-taa nu sha-shin tu-ti kwi-mi-soo-ree

   Could you please take a photo of us?

   Usage

   Used politely to ask someone to take a photo of your group

   Grammar Note

   "Wattaa" is the Ryukyuan word for "we/us". "Kumisoree" is the highest honorific form.

4. しゃしん とぅてー ならん

   Sha-shin tu-tee na-ran

   Photography is not allowed.

   Usage

   Used to indicate that taking photos is prohibited

   Grammar Note

   "Naran" is the Ryukyuan prohibition form equivalent to "naranai" (must not) in Japanese.

5. まーぬ ばしょー しゃしん ぬ ちゅらさん？

   Maa-nu ba-shoo sha-shin nu chu-ra-san?

   Which place has the most beautiful photos?

   Usage

   Used to find the most photogenic spot

   Grammar Note

   "Maanu" means "which place's". "Bashoo" is the Ryukyuan form of "basho" (place).

6. しゃしん ちゅらさん でーびたん

   Sha-shin chu-ra-san dee-bi-tan

   The photo was very beautiful.

   Usage

   Used to compliment a beautiful photo

   Grammar Note

   "Deebitan" is the Ryukyuan polite past equivalent of "deshita" (was).

7. カメラ ぬ バッテリー きりーてぃびーん

   Ka-me-ra nu bat-te-rii ki-rii-ti-biin

   The camera battery is dead.

   Usage

   Used to say the camera battery has run out

   Grammar Note

   "Kamera" and "batterrii" are loanwords. "Kiriitibiim" is the polite form of "is cut off/depleted".

8. しゃしん みしてぃ くぃみそーれー

   Sha-shin mi-shi-ti kwi-mi-soo-ree

   Please show me the photos.

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to show their photos

   Grammar Note

   To show is the verb misijuN, whose gerund is mishiti. Wii is either ?ii (the stomach) or 'wii (above) — neither means to show.

9. じぇいぴーぐ ぬ しゃしん おくいびら

   Je-i-pii-gu nu sha-shin o-ku-i-bi-ra

   Let's send the JPEG photos.

   Usage

   Used when sharing photo files digitally

   Grammar Note

   "Jeipiig" is the Ryukyuan phonetic form of "JPEG". "Okuibira" is the polite suggestion to send.

10. うちなー ぬ いりふぃ ちゅらさん しゃしん とぅいびたん

    U-chi-naa nu i-ri-hwi chu-ra-san sha-shin tu-i-bi-tan

    I took a beautiful photo of the Okinawan sunset.

    Usage

    Used to share about a beautiful photo taken of an Okinawan sunset

    Grammar Note

    "Irihwi" is the word ?irihwi (sunset); "tiida" means the sun itself and is not used here. "Tuibitan" is the polite past tense of "to take (a photo)".

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