Visa & Immigration

1. ビザぬ しんせーや あいびーみ？

   Bi-za-nu shin-see-ya a-i-bii-mi?

   Is there a visa application process?

   Usage

   Used to ask about visa application procedures

   Grammar Note

   Tiichi (tiiCi) means "one, a single item" and never "application". Shinsee "application" is a modern term, but the lengthening of Japanese shinsei into shinsee is a regular Okinawan sound change. Existence is asked with aibiimi, the polite question form of an "there is" (?aN); the copula yaibiimi cannot stand in for an existential. Biza is borrowed from English "visa"

2. パスポート みしてぃ くぃみそーれー

   Pa-su-poo-to mi-shi-ti kwi-mi-soo-ree

   Please show me your passport.

   Usage

   Used at immigration or check-in to ask for a passport

   Grammar Note

   Mishiti kwimisooree is the same "please show me" form (mishiti = show, kwimisooree = please). Misheebira uses -bira, a polite volitional that cannot make a request.

3. にゅうこく ぬ うむむち やいびーが？

   Nyuu-ko-ku nu u-mu-mu-chi ya-i-bii-ga?

   What is the purpose of your visit?

   Usage

   Used by immigration officers to ask about the purpose of entry

   Grammar Note

   "Purpose" is umumuchi, ?umumuci "business, errand, purpose" (example: nuugana ?umumucinu ?ati cooN doo. "I came because I had something to see you about"). Nyuukoku is a modern administrative term and is left as is. "Yaibiiga" is a polite question ending.

4. かんこう んかい ちゃーびたん

   Kan-koo n-kai chaa-bi-tan

   I came for sightseeing / tourism.

   Usage

   Used to state the purpose of entry as tourism

   Grammar Note

   Chaabitan is the polite past of chuun "to come" (the same form as in "kumankai hajimiti chaabitan"). "Nkai" marks purpose or direction. Ichabiin is the polite form of "to go" (ichun), not "came".

5. いち までぃ をぅいびーが？

   I-chi ma-di wu-i-bii-ga?

   Until when will you be staying?

   Usage

   Used at immigration to ask about the length of stay

   Grammar Note

   "Ichi" means "when" (?iCi). "Madii" is the Ryukyuan equivalent of "made" (until), as in ?iCi madiN "forever". "Wuibiiga" is a polite existential question.

6. やどぅ ぬ なー ならーち くぃみそーれー

   Ya-du nu naa na-raa-chi kwi-mi-soo-ree

   Please tell me the name of your accommodation.

   Usage

   Used at immigration to ask for the name of accommodation

   Grammar Note

   "Naa" is a shortened form of "namae" (name) used in Ryukyuan. Naraachi kwimisooree is the "please tell me" form. Misheebira uses -bira, a polite volitional that cannot make a request.

7. ビザ ぬ きかん やいびーが？

   Bi-za nu ki-kan ya-i-bii-ga?

   How long is the visa valid for?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the validity period of a visa

   Grammar Note

   "Kikan" (period) is the same in both standard Japanese and Ryukyuan.

8. にゅうこくしんさ とぅーいびたん

   Nyuu-ko-ku-shin-sa too-i-bi-tan

   I went through immigration.

   Usage

   Used to say you have cleared immigration

   Grammar Note

   Tooibitan is the polite past of tooyun "to pass through" (tuujuN), formed like kooibitan. Chaabiitan belongs to the polite past chaabitan of chuun "to come", not to passing through.

9. にむち ぬ しんさ あいびーみ？

   Ni-mu-chi nu shin-sa a-i-bii-mi?

   Is there a baggage inspection?

   Usage

   Used to ask about baggage or customs inspection

   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. "Baggage" is nimuCi (nimuchi). "Shinsa" (inspection) is the same as in standard Japanese.

10. やまとぅ んかい いちゅばんに うちなーんかい ちゃーびたん

    Ya-ma-tu n-kai i-chu-ban-ni u-chi-naa n-kai chaa-bi-tan

    I came to Okinawa via mainland Japan.

    Usage

    Used to explain your travel route when arriving at Okinawa

    Grammar Note

    'Jamatu means "Japan; the mainland as opposed to Okinawa", which is exactly the contrast this sentence draws. "Uchinaa" is ?ucinaa "Okinawa". "Ichuban-ni" indicates transit through a place.

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