Ryukyuan Signs

Find Ryukyuan language signs!

[ryukyuansigns]

「にーぶんじゃー」　登川（地名）＠沖縄市、登川

Niibunjaa. Noborikawa (place name). @Noborikawa, Okinawa-shi

[ryukyuansigns]

「ちゅらさん」 きれいだ。美しい。

churasan. beautiful, good-looking, or being clean, looks well-arranged.

[ryukyuansigns]

「なんくる」 ひとりでに、自ら、自然と、おのずと

nankuru. by itself. naturally. nankuru naintee. "(Don't worry about it.) It'll be alright." "Just let it be." nankuru mii=grows naturally (wild) unu chinkwaa-ya nankuru mii yashiga natoossaa."This pumpkin grew wild but (luckily) bore fruit." (from Shuri-Naha Dialect Dictionary Online Database)

[ryukyuansigns]

デイサービス、an elder day-care center

「かーさ」　月桃などの幅の広い葉っぱなどを指す。＠西原町、棚原

kaasa.  broad leaves like those of shell ginger.  @Tanahara, Nishiara sannin-gaasa=leaves of shell ginger sannin=shell ginger

[ryukyuansigns]

食堂、a small local restaurant

「てぃーらぶい」　日照り雨。太陽が出ているときに降る雨。

tiirabui. sun-shower. a sudden rainfall in the sunshine.

[ryukyuansigns]

「まかちょーけー」 まかせておけ！ 「かめーかめーこうげき」 （おばあなどが）ごはんなどをたくさん食べさせる様

Makachookee. "I'll do it!, Leave it to me!, You can count on me!"

kamee-kamee-koogeki. an attack you get like "eat this and have that" when you visit your grandma's house. Kamee="Go ahead and eat!" (literally means "eat!")  

[ryukyuansigns]

おしぼり、wet hand tissue

「あみ」①雨　②網　③飴　④あるか？

ami. 1. rain (e.g. ami futoosa. "It's raining.") 2. net (e.g. ami-saani iju-gwaa sukuin. "(I) scoop a little fish with a net.") 3. candy (e.g. ami-gwaa iimi? "You want some candy?") 4. Do you have ～? or Is there ～? (e.g. hasan ami? "You got scissors?") 

[ryukyuansigns]

天ぷら屋、a tempura place

「うちなーてぃんぷら」　沖縄風天ぷら（衣が厚く、フリッターに近い）＠海の駅、与那城

uchinaa timpura. Okinawa-style tempura (it's more like fritter than Japanese tempura). uchinaa=Okinawa, timpura=tempura.＠Umi no Eki, Yonashiro

[ryukyuansigns]

シーサー屋、a place that makes and sells shiisaa

「しーさー」　獅子、沖縄風こま犬

shiisaa. a gargoyle in the form of a lion-dog, usually placed on top of the house roof to drive away evil (spirits).(taken from Okinawan-English Wordbook, Mitsugu Sakihara, 2006)

[ryukyuansigns]

居酒屋、an izakaya bar

「さーふーふー」　ほろ酔い気分　＠那覇市、繁多川

saafuufuu. being a little bit drunk, tipsy (and feeling good). @Hantagawa, Naha  

[ryukyuansigns]

鍼・灸・整骨院、acupuncture, moxibustion, and osteopathic clinic

「くくる」　心。　＠西原町呉屋

kukuru. feelings, one's mind, the heart. @Goya, Nishihara

[ryukyuansigns]

看板、a sign at a noodle place

「めんそーれー」　いらっしゃい。＠西原町、呉屋

mensooree. Welcome, Come on in! (used when customers come in at restaurants, or when letting people in to the house) @Goya, Nishihara

This is a pun （麺 (men) means noodles in Japanese）.

[ryukyuansigns]

沖縄そば屋、an Okinawa suba (soba) place

「ちょーでーぐぁー」　兄弟（親しみをこめた言い方）。＠西原町、呉屋

choodeegwaa.  my (beloved) brothers and sisters. choodee=brothers and sisters, -gwaa=beloved, dearest @Goya, Nishihara

But... -gwaa can mean many things depending on how it is used: 1. small, little: mayaa-gwaa "a kitty(a little cat)" ←mainly means this. 2. beloved, dearest: (see above) 3. f**cking, fr**king: yana-haamee-gwaa "a f**cking hag"

[ryukyuansigns]

公園、a public park

「はいさい」　こんにちは（？）。首里・那覇では主に男性が使用。しかし、その他の地域では男女ともに使用。　また、スピーチ時のあいさつとしても多用される　（例：はいさい、ぐすーよー。ちゅーうがなびら）　＠浦添市

Haisai. a greeting phrase when seeing strangers or people unfamiliar outside. strickly used by men in Naha and Shuri, but can be used by women in some other areas. Recently, often used before the speech (e.g., Haisai, gusuuyoo. Chuu wuganabira "Hi, everyone. Good to see you."). @Urasoe

[ryukyuansigns]

注意書き、a notice

「はぶ」　＠浦添市

habu.  a habu poisonous snake. The notice says "Be careful of HABU!" @Urasoe

[ryukyuansigns]

食堂、a small restaurant

「ぬちぐすい」　非常においしいもの。　＠名護市許田「道の駅」

nuchigusui.  very tasty food. @Kyoda, Nago (Michi no Eki).

[ryukyuansigns]

居酒屋、an izakaya bar

「なーぐすく」　地名。現、南風原町宮城（みやぐすく）。こう配90度のすべり台がある宮城公園が人気。＠南風原町宮城

Naagusuku.  a place located in northern Haebaru. @Miyagusuku, Haebaru.