“Speak, Okinawa,” by Elizabeth Miki Brina (Knopf). Elizabeth Miki Brina’s “Speak, Okinawa” is a masterful memoir in which Brina examines the complex relationship she has with her. Scholars call it Okinawa-Hogen, or the Okinawan Dialect; it’s U-CHI-NA-GU-CHI, to a native. This post won’t get you speaking like a native Okinawan, but if you print it out and stuff it in your wallet before visiting Okinawa two things will happen: 1. Your thick wallet will make you look richer than most Americans who visit here. Eventbrite - Books Are Magic presents Elizabeth Miki Brina: Speak, Okinawa w/ Bryan Washington - Wednesday, February 24, 2021 - Find event and registration information.
Speak Okinawa Brina
1 - One | tii chi |
2 - Two | taa chi |
3 - Three | mii chi |
4 - Four | yuu chi |
5 - Five | ichi chi |
6 - Six | muu chi |
7 - Seven | nana chi |
8 - Eight | yaa chi |
9 - Nine | kuku nuchi |
10 - Ten | tuu |
100 - One Hundred | hyaa ku |
Good Morning | ukimi soo chii |
Good day | hai sai |
Or | chuu wuga nabira |
Good evening | hai sai |
Good night | uyukuimi soori |
Good bye | guburii sabira |
How do you do? | hajimita wuga nabira |
How are you? | uganjuu yami seemi |
Fine thank you. | uu ganjuu sooi biin |
Thank you very much | nifee deebiru |
I beg your pardon | chaa bira |
Excuse me | guburii sabura |
I'm sorry | guburii sabitan |
That's all right | shiwaa neebi ran |
Please hurry | isujimi sooree |
Don't hurry please | yoonnaa shimi sooree |
What's this? | kuree nuuyaibiiga |
How much is it? | uree chassa yai biiga |
Do you have anything cheaper? | naahin yassa shiga ami seemi |
Hello | moshi moshi |
This is Michael | michael yai biin |
Just a minute please | ufee macchi kwimi sooree |
I'll call back later | atukara kakiya biisa |
Delicious | maa san |
It's HOT! | achiisaiibin-do |
Ouch! | agaa!! |
Expression - Surprise, anger, 'Oh my gawd!' | akisamiyoo! |
Person who talks loudly, yelling | abiyaa |
It's hot, isn't it? | achisan yaa tai |
Okinawan doughnut | andagii |
Mother | anmaa or ayaa |
Pig's feet soup | ashitibichi |
Literally ' Are you healthy?' | chya gan jyuu? |
Good afternoon | chyu uganabira |
Person | chu |
Good looking | chyuura kagi |
Pardon me. May I come in?(Used when entering a home.) | chaabira sai. |
How do you do? | chuu uganabira |
People | chu (short sound) |
Have you been well? | chaa ganjuu yaibiimi tai |
Very(much) | deijii |
Crazy person | furaagwa |
Glutton | Gachiimaya |
Mosquito | Gaajyan |
Excuse me. | Guuburi sabida |
Castle | Gusuku |
Person | Guwa |
dirty | Hagoosa |
Hello. (everyday greeting) | Hai sai |
I'm glad to meet you. | Hajimiti uganabira. |
Nice weather we are having | Il kwaa chichi |
Please come in. | Ii misooree |
Intoxicated | Iichyaa |
Small/short | Inchyaasa |
money | jin |
Good (very) | Jooto |
Hair | Karajii |
Come here. | kumankai kuuwa |
Said before eating a meal. | Kuwachi sabida |
It was very delicious/ may I be excused. | Kuwachi sabitan |
Where are you going? | maa kai ga |
Large big | magii |
Tasty, delicious | maasan |
Please come back again. | Mataa mensore |
Welcome. | Mensooree. |
Bring to me | Muchiku |
Thank you. | Nifee deebiru. |
Sleepy | Nibuii |
Sleepy head | niibu yaa |
Sweetheart (besides one's wife); girlfriend | ningurugwaa |
Goodbye | njichabira |
Life is a treasure. | Nuchi Du Takara |
What are you doing? | Nuu sou ga? |
Application | Oyoo (Japanese - bunkai) |
Honorific Mr. Ms. | Sai |
Teacher | Shinshi (Japanese - Sensei) |
Hand | Ti |
Okinawa | Uchina |
The Okinawan language | Uchina guchi |
Do you understand Okinawan? | Uchinaa-guchi wakai miseemi. |
Yes, I understand a little. | Uu, ufee wakai biin. |
People from Okinawa | Uchinanchu |
Rascal | uumaku |
Yes | Uun |
You | Unjyu |
You (polite) | unju |
Please | Unige sabida |
I don't understand | Wakaya bidan |
I understand | Wakaya bitan |
I, me, myself | Wan |
Child | Waraba |
I'm Sorry. | Wa sai bin |
Japan | Yamato |
Japanese people | Yamatonchu |
Japanese language | Yamatoguchi |
Not good looking | yanakaagii |
Bad weather isn't it? | Yanakwaa chichi |
Loud, noisy | Yagui |
Bad child | Yana waraban |
Rest awhile. | yukuimisooree |
talkative | yuntaku |
Speak Okinawa Book Review
Speak Okinawa By Elizabeth Miki Brina
Ataishi turu atairu. - We get along well with those we can get along with well.
Achinee ya tankaa mankaa. - Business is a two-way street.
Aramun jooguu ya duu ganjuu. - One who eats plain food is healthy.
Ichariba choodee. - Once we meet and talk, we are brothers and sisters.
Western fonts for mac. Uya yushi kwa yushi. - Parents and children teach one another.
Kaagee kaa ru ya ru. - Beauty is skin deep.
Kamuru ussaa mii nayun. - The more you eat, the more you gain.
Kuu sa kana sa. - Small things are lovable.
Kuchi ganga naa ya yakutatan. - A smooth talker is a good-for-nothing person.
Kutubaa. Jin chikee. - Spend words as efficiently as money.
Kutuba noo ushikumaran. - A word can't be recalled once spoken.
Shikinoo chui shiihii shiru kurasuru. - Let's live helping each other in this world.
Shinjichi nu ada nayumi. - Kindness will never be wasted in any way.
Jin too waraaran kwa tu ru waraariiru. - We can laugh happily with our children, but not with money.
Chu uyamee ru duu uyamee. - If you respect others, they will respect you.
Choo kukuru ru dee ichi. - The heart is the most essential human quality.
Tusui ya tatashina mun. Warabee shikashina mun. Buy lightroom for mac. - The old should be Treated with due respect. Children should be treated with gentleness.
Tusui ya takara. - The old people are treasures to us.
Miitundaa duu tichi. - Man and wife are one flesh.
Nuchi nu sadamee wakaran. - Only God knows one's term of life.
Machushi garu ufu iyoo tuyuru. - One who waits patiently will catch a big fish.
Miinai chichi nai. - We learn by watching and listening.
Mii ya tin niru aru. - Our fates are as registered by heaven.
Munoo yuu iyuru mun. - Speak well of others.
Yaasa ru maasaru. - Food is delicious when one is hungry.
Duu nu duu ya duu shiru shiyuru. - You know your body best.
Choo kani ru deeichi. - Common sense is essential.
Yii kutoo isugi. - Do good things quickly.
Chira kaagi yaka chimu gukuru. - Kind hearts are better than fair faces.
Yuu ya shititin mii ya shitinna. - Even if you hide yourself from the world, don't lose sight of your real nature.
Nmarijima nu kutuba wasshii nee kuni n wasshiin. - Forgetting your native tongue means forgetting your native country.
Ashibi nu chura saa ninju nu sunawai. - The more the merrier.
Acha nu neen chi ami. - Tomorrow is a new day.
Yikiga nu kutubaa shuumun gaai. - A man's word is his honor.
Mookiraa kwee michi shiri. - Once you have made a fortune, know how to spend it.
Notes on PronunciationThere are five vowels:
The double vowels are pronounced with the longer vowel sound. For example: dee is pronounced more like 'day' as opposed to 'dee' (long 'e' sound). Microsoft preview for mac.
REFERENCES
Higa, E. (1976). Okinawan Classical Music: Analysis of Vocal Performance, Master's Thesis,
Shimabukuro, Z. ( Unknown). The Okinawan Mind in Proverbs, Publisher Unknown, (excerpts
Unknown, (2000). Okinawa FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions and Glossary, (available