This is a very polite way to ask a question in Okinawan. It means "Is it...?" or "Am I right that it is...?"
Noun + やいびーみPrimary
な-Adjective + やいびーみ
い-Adjective [stem] + く + やいびーみ
This is a very polite way to ask a question in Okinawan. It means "Is it...?" or "Am I right that it is...?"
首里城は、琉球ぬ誇いやいびーみ。
Shuri Castle is the pride of the Ryukyus, is it not?
御庭ぬ花や、ちゅらさんやいびーみ。
The flowers in the garden are beautiful, are they not?
昨日ぬ話や、あれやいびーみ。
Regarding yesterday's talk, was it that one?
くまかい、行ちぇーならん場所やいびーみ。
From this point onward, is it a place where entry is forbidden?
「『あれやいびーみ』とぅ、御万人ぬうむとーいびーん。」
"'Is it that one?', is what everyone is thinking.
This form is very old-fashioned. It is like speaking in a very formal, old style of English. People use it for special events or plays. Older people might use it in very polite talks. If you use it every day, it sounds strange.
This is different from 〜やいびーん. That means 'it is'. This means 'Is it?' It asks a question. 〜やいびーん makes a statement. For everyday questions, use 〜やが instead. It is much less formal.
Don't use this when you are not asking a question. For example, don't say "That is a dog, yaibiimi." This word always ends a sentence. It asks a question. It connects to nouns. It connects to adjective stems.
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