Shopping

1. くりや ちゃっさ やいびーが？

   Ku-ri ya chas-sa yai-bii-ga?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Politely asking the price of an item at Kokusai-dori or a market

   Grammar Note

   Yaibiiga is the interrogative form of yaibiin (polite copula); the standard polite price inquiry

2. あわもり こーゆん

   A-wa-mo-ri koo-yun

   I will buy awamori (Okinawan rice spirit)

   Usage

   Saying you'll buy awamori — the signature Okinawan distilled rice spirit, a popular souvenir. The Okinawan word for awamori is aamui (?aamui); awamori is the Japanese form, which is what every bottle and menu says.

   Grammar Note

   Kooyun is the Ryukyuan word for "to buy" (koojuN); aged awamori (kuusu) is especially prized

3. たかさん、まけてぃくぃみそーり

   Ta-ka-san, ma-ke-ti kwi-mi-soo-ri

   It's too expensive, please give me a discount

   Usage

   Bargaining for a discount at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   Kumisooori is a polite request suffix; maketi means "give a discount", shared with Japanese

4. やちむん こーいびたん

   Ya-chi-mun koo-i-bi-tan

   I bought yachimun (Okinawan pottery)

   Usage

   Telling someone you bought yachimun — Okinawa's vibrant traditional pottery

   Grammar Note

   Kooibitan is the polite past form of kooyun (to buy); Tsuboya in Naha is famous for yachimun

5. にふぇーでーびる、またくーとー

   Ni-fee-dee-bi-ru, ma-ta kuu-too

   Thank you very much, I will come again

   Usage

   Thanking a shopkeeper after a purchase and letting them know you'll return

   Grammar Note

   Nifedeebiru is the most formal thank-you; kuutoo is the volitional form of kuun (to come)

6. びんがたぬぬ こーいびたん

   Bin-ga-ta-nu-nu koo-i-bi-tan

   I bought bingata fabric (Okinawan dyed textile)

   Usage

   Telling someone you purchased bingata — Okinawa's vivid traditional stencil-dyed textile

   Grammar Note

   Kooibitan is the polite past of kooyun "to buy"; bingata has been a Ryukyuan dyeing tradition since the kingdom era. Nooshiibitan belongs to nooshun "to fix", not "to buy".

7. しーさー くぃみそーれー

   Shii-saa kwi-mi-soo-ree

   Please give me a shisa (Okinawan lion-dog)

   Usage

   Buying a shisa — the Okinawan guardian lion-dog figurine, the most popular souvenir

   Grammar Note

   Nkai is -Nkai "to", not the object marker "wo" (?iN → ?inuNkai "to the dog"). When asking for something, no particle is used: kwimisoore "please give". Shisa are guardian lion-dog figures placed on Okinawan rooftops and gates to ward off evil spirits

8. くーすぬあわもりくぃみそーり

   Kuu-su nu a-wa-mo-ri kwi-mi-soo-ri

   Please give me kuusu (aged awamori)

   Usage

   Purchasing aged awamori (kuusu) — Okinawa's premium aged rice spirit, a prized souvenir. The Okinawan word for awamori is aamui (?aamui); awamori is the Japanese form, which is what every bottle and menu says.

   Grammar Note

   Kuusu is awamori aged for three or more years; a premium spirit with roots in the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Kuusu is also written kuusju; kuusuu is a different word (a tree lizard, Tomigusuku)

9. みやげびんや まーやいびーが？

   Mi-ya-ge-bin ya maa yai-bii-ga?

   Where is the souvenir shop?

   Usage

   Asking where to find the souvenir shop in Okinawa

   Grammar Note

   Maa is the Ryukyuan "where"; yaibiiga creates the polite question form

10. たーち くぃみそーれー

    Taa-chi kwi-mi-soo-ree

    Please give me two

    Usage

    Requesting two of an item at a market or souvenir shop

    Grammar Note

    Taachi is the native Ryukyuan word for "two". The request uses kwimisoore "please give". In taachimai kuree, mai means "also", not request emphasis, and kuree is used as "this".

11. レシートー いらびらん

    Re-shii-too i-ra-bi-ran

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining when the cashier asks "Reshiitoo fusaibiimi?" (would you like the receipt?)

    Grammar Note

    The verb ?ijuN (to need) has the negative ?iraN; the polite negative adds -biraN, giving irabiran. The topic particle ya also attaches to loanwords, fusing reshiito + ya into reshiitoo

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