Public Transport

1. なーふぁ まちなかんかい いちゅるバス あいびーみ？

   Naa-fa ma-chi-na-kan-kai i-chu-ru ba-su a-i-bii-mi?

   Is there a bus going to Naha city center?

   Usage

   Used at a bus stop or information center to ask about bus availability

   Grammar Note

   Naha is naafa (naahwa). Existence uses aibiin, the polite form of an "there is" (?aN), with the question form aibiimi. The copula yaibiin / yaibiimi means "it is / is it?" and cannot stand in for an existential. Adding the ending -mi turns the verb into a yes/no question.

2. ちゃっさ やいびーが？

   Chas-sa yai-bii-ga?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Used to ask the fare on buses or taxis

   Grammar Note

   Chassa is the Okinawan question word for quantity ("how much"). Yaibiiga is the polite question ending.

3. ゆいレール あいびーん

   Yu-i-ree-ru a-i-biin

   There is the Yui Rail (monorail)

   Usage

   When explaining or asking about the Yui Rail monorail in Okinawa

   Grammar Note

   Existence uses aibiin, the polite form of an "there is" (?aN), with the question form aibiimi. The copula yaibiin / yaibiimi means "it is / is it?" and cannot stand in for an existential. Yui Rail opened in 2003 as Okinawa's only railway. "Yui" means connection/bonding in Ryukyuan.

4. こくさいどおりんかい いちゃびらに？

   Ko-ku-sai-do-o-rin-kai i-cha-bi-ra-ni?

   Shall we go to Kokusai Street?

   Usage

   When suggesting taking transport to Kokusai Street, Naha's main tourist street

   Grammar Note

   Nkai is the Ryukyuan directional particle, equivalent to "ni/e" in standard Japanese.

5. タクシー あいびーみ？

   Ta-ku-shii a-i-bii-mi?

   Is there a taxi?

   Usage

   Used when looking for a taxi and asking someone nearby

   Grammar Note

   Existence is asked with aibiin, the polite form of "there is" (?aN); the question form is aibiimi. Yaabimi is a variant of the copula yaibiin ("it is"), which cannot express existence.

6. まーかい いちゃびーが？

   Maa-kai i-cha-bii-ga?

   Where are you going?

   Usage

   Used to ask a taxi driver or confirm the destination of transport

   Grammar Note

   "Maa" means "where"; with the directional particle it becomes "maakai" (to where). Ichabiiga is the polite question form of "to go".

7. にふぇーでーびる

   Ni-fee-dee-bi-ru

   Thank you for your service

   Usage

   Used to thank a bus driver or taxi driver when getting off

   Grammar Note

   Thanks is expressed with the Okinawan nifeedeebiru. Arigatoo copies Japanese arigatou.

8. うちなー ぬ バス くちゃん

   U-chi-naa nu ba-su ku-chan

   The Okinawa bus has arrived

   Usage

   Used to announce or note the arrival of a bus

   Grammar Note

   Kuchan is the past tense of "kuru" (to come). Ryukyuan past tense is formed with the suffix "-chan".

9. なーふぁ バスターミナル まーやいびーが？

   Naa-fa ba-su-taa-mi-na-ru maa ya-i-bii-ga?

   Where is Naha Bus Terminal?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to Naha Bus Terminal

   Grammar Note

   Maa is the Ryukyuan equivalent of "doko" (where). Yaibiiga is a polite question form asking about location.

10. ちゃー ぬとーいびーん

    Chaa nu-too-i-bii-n

    I always ride this

    Usage

    Used when talking about regularly using a particular form of transport

    Grammar Note

    "Always" is chaa — the adverb caa, as in chaa anu michi tuujun "I always take that road". Ichin (?iciN) means "admonishing someone" and never "always". "To ride" is nuyun (nujuN), polite progressive nutooibiin.

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