This word is like 'da' or 'dayo' in Japanese. You use it to say what something is. It is a casual way to speak.
This word is like 'da' or 'dayo' in Japanese. You use it to say what something is. It is a casual way to speak.
This is my car. (Standard Japanese: これは私の車だよ。)
Yesterday's weather was sunny. (Standard Japanese: 昨日の天気は、晴れだったよ。)
That is not Takashi's house. (Standard Japanese: あれはタカシさんの家じゃないよ。)
Okinawa's summer is very hot. (Standard Japanese: 沖縄の夏は、とても暑いよ。)
Thinking, 'This road is fine,' I went ahead. (Standard Japanese: 「この道で大丈夫だよ」と思って進んだ。)
This is like saying 'is' or 'are'. It is different from 'yaibiin'. 'Yaibiin' is more polite. It is also different from 'yasa'. 'Yasa' makes your statement sound softer and friendlier.
Watch out: Do not mix this up with "~yan" from the Kansai area. Kansai "~yan" shows surprise. It points something out. Okinawan "~yan" is different. It is like "da" in standard Japanese. It just says what something is.
Don't use this when you speak Standard Japanese. This grammar is for Okinawan language only. When you use this with adjectives, the form changes. For い-adjectives, change the last い to さ. Then add やん. For example, あつい (hot) becomes あちさやん. For な-adjectives, just add やん to the word. For example, しずか (quiet) becomes しずかやん.
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