Post Office

1. ゆーびんきょく まー やいびーが？

   Yuu-bin-kyo-ku maa ya-i-bii-ga?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to the post office

   Grammar Note

   "Yuubinkyoku" (post office) is the same as standard Japanese. "Maa yaibiiga" is the standard where-is question in Ryukyuan.

2. てがみ おくいびら

   Te-ga-mi o-ku-i-bi-ra

   Let's send a letter.

   Usage

   Used to suggest sending a letter

   Grammar Note

   "Okuibira" is the polite suggestion form of "okuru" (to send) in Ryukyuan.

3. きって ちゃっさ やいびーが？

   Kit-te chas-sa yai-bii-ga?

   How much is a stamp?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of a postage stamp

   Grammar Note

   "Kitte" (stamp) is the same as standard Japanese. "Ichai" is the Ryukyuan form of "ikura" (how much).

4. やまとぅ んかい こづつみ おくいびたん

   Ya-ma-tu n-kai ko-zu-tsu-mi o-ku-i-bi-tan

   I sent a package to Japan.

   Usage

   Used to say you sent a package to Japan

   Grammar Note

   Yamatu ('jamatu) is "Japan; the Japanese mainland as opposed to Okinawa". Kozutsumi is a modern postal term and is left as is. "Okuibitan" is the polite past of "to send" (?ukujuN).

5. そくたつ でーびーみ？

   So-ku-ta-tsu dee-bii-mi?

   Is express delivery available?

   Usage

   Used to ask if express delivery service is available

   Grammar Note

   "Deebimi" is the Ryukyuan polite question ending, equivalent to "desu ka" in standard Japanese.

6. ポストカード うちなー から おくいびら

   Po-su-to-kaa-do u-chi-naa ka-ra o-ku-i-bi-ra

   Let's send a postcard from Okinawa.

   Usage

   Used to suggest sending a postcard from Okinawa

   Grammar Note

   "Posutokaaado" is borrowed from English "postcard". "Kara" (from) is the same as standard Japanese.

7. とどくん いち でーびーが？

   To-do-kun i-chi dee-bii-ga?

   When will it arrive?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the expected delivery date

   Grammar Note

   "Todokun" is the Ryukyuan form of "todoku" (to arrive). "Ichi" means "when" (?iCi).

8. りゅーきゅー ぬ ゆーびんきょく ちゅらさん

   Ryuu-kyuu nu yuu-bin-kyo-ku chu-ra-san

   The Ryukyuan post office is beautiful.

   Usage

   Used to compliment the appearance of a post office

   Grammar Note

   "Ryuukyuu" is the historical name of the Ryukyu Kingdom. "Churasan" means beautiful in Okinawan.

9. てがみ かちゃびたん

   Te-ga-mi ka-cha-bi-tan

   I wrote a letter.

   Usage

   Used to say you have written a letter

   Grammar Note

   "Kachabitan" is the polite past tense form of "kaku" (to write) in Ryukyuan.

10. にむち とどちゃびーたん

    Ni-mu-chi to-do-cha-bii-tan

    The package has arrived.

    Usage

    Used to announce that a package has arrived

    Grammar Note

    "Todochabiitan" is the polite past tense form of "todoku" (to arrive/be delivered) in Ryukyuan. "Baggage" is nimuCi (nimuchi); Okinawan has no "tsu" sound, so it is not nimotsu.

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