Sustainability & Eco

1. くりや まーかい リサイクル なやびーが？

   Ku-ri-ya maa-kai ri-sai-ku-ru na-ya-bii-ga

   Where can I recycle this?

   Usage

   Used when asking where to recycle waste or items

   Grammar Note

   "This" is kuri. Ability is expressed with nayabiiga "is it possible?". Risaikuru "recycling" is a loanword, so it keeps its katakana spelling

2. なんどぅん ちかりーる ふくろー あいびーみ？

   Nan-dun chi-ka-rii-ru fu-ku-roo a-i-bii-mi

   Do you have reusable bags?

   Usage

   Used in markets or shops to ask about reusable bags

   Grammar Note

   "How many times" is nandu (naNdu) and "bag" is hukuru, which fuses with the topic particle ya into hukuroo. "To use" is chikayun (CikajuN); its potential is chikariin and the attributive chikariiru. Since this is a yes-or-no question, the ending is aibiimi rather than aibiiga

3. くまんかい しじん まむゆる やどぅや あいびーみ？

   Ku-man-kai shi-jin ma-mu-yu-ru ya-du-ya a-i-bii-mi

   Is there eco-friendly accommodation here?

   Usage

   Used when looking for accommodation that respects Okinawa's natural environment

   Grammar Note

   "Nature" is shijin (siziN), "to protect" is mamuyun (mamujuN) with the attributive mamuyuru, and "lodging" is yadu ('jadu)

4. わーボトルんかい みじ いりてぃ くぃみそーれー。

   Waa-bo-to-ru-n-kai mi-ji i-ri-ti kwi-mi-soo-ree

   Please refill my water bottle.

   Usage

   Used to avoid single-use plastic by asking to refill a reusable bottle

   Grammar Note

   "Water" is miji (miZi) and "to put in" is iriyun (?iri=juN), whose te-form is iriti. Waa- is the possessive prefix "my"

5. やせーぬ ほーちゅーん あいびーみ？

   Ya-see-nu hoo-chuu-n a-i-bii-mi

   Are there vegetable-based dishes? (vegetarian-friendly)

   Usage

   Used at Okinawan restaurants or diners to ask about vegetable-based meals

   Grammar Note

   "Vegetables" is yasee ('jaSee) and "cooked dish" is hoochuu (hoocuu). Chanpuruu is one of the dish names under hoochuu

6. ゆいレール ちかてぃ すいまでぃ いちゅる くとぅ なやびーみ？

   Yui-ree-ru chi-ka-ti sui-ma-di i-chu-ru ku-tu na-ya-bii-mi

   Can I take the Yui Rail (monorail) to...?

   Usage

   Used in Naha when asking about eco-friendly transport via the Yui Rail monorail

   Grammar Note

   "To use" is chikayun (CikajuN), te-form chikati, and "to go" is ichun, attributive ichuru. Ability is …kutu nayabiimi. Swap "sui" (Shuri) for any destination. The Yui Rail is Naha's main public transit line

7. ちかさる まちぬめーや あいびーみ？

   Chi-ka-sa-ru ma-chi-nu-mee-ya a-i-bii-mi

   Is there a local market nearby?

   Usage

   Used when wanting to buy fresh local produce

   Grammar Note

   A market is machinumee (macinumee, "the place where the machi is"), machi being the market itself. There is no word for "local", so the question simply asks for a nearby market.

8. ふくろー ちかんぐとぅ うにげーさびら。

   Fu-ku-roo chi-kan-gu-tu u-ni-gee-sa-bi-ra

   Please don't use bags (minimal packaging).

   Usage

   Used in shops to decline bags and reduce plastic waste

   Grammar Note

   The negative of chikayun "to use" is chikan, and -n gutu means "so as not to…", the same construction as sangutu. Unigeesabira is the polite "I ask this of you"

9. くまんかい しじんぬ エコツアーや あいびーみ？

   Ku-man-kai shi-jin-nu e-ko-tsu-aa-ya a-i-bii-mi

   Are there eco-tourism nature activities available here?

   Usage

   Used when seeking eco-tourism that allows experiencing and protecting Okinawa's rich nature

   Grammar Note

   "Nature" is shijin (siziN). There is no word for "hands-on experience" or "eco-tourism", so the loanword ekotsuaa is used as is

10. ちきゅーおんだんかぬ えーきょー いきらく しーぶさいびーん。

    Chi-kyuu-on-dan-ka-nu ee-kyoo i-ki-ra-ku shii-bu-sai-bii-n

    I want to reduce my impact on climate change.

    Usage

    Used to express the intention to reduce travel-related environmental impact

    Grammar Note

    "Few, little" is ikirasan (?ikirasaN), whose adverbial form is ikiraku. Chikyuuondanka "global warming" and eekyoo "impact" are modern terms and stay Japanese

Browse all TravelPhrases languages