Kumi logo
    Kumi

    Learn Japanese. Where understanding folds into fluency.

    Dictionary

    KanjiKanji vocabularyKana vocabularyKanaRadicalsGrammarJLPT N5

    Learn

    GuidesStart where you areWhat is KMT?RoadmapFAQ

    Connect

    EmailDiscordInstagramThreadsTikTokYouTubeLinkedInBlueskyX

    Newsletter

    Start learning free →

    Free forever tier. No card required.

    © 2026 Kumiai Inc. All rights reserved.

    AboutFAQContactStatusPrivacyTermsAttributions
    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜やん

    〜やん

    〜やん

    This word is like 'da' or 'dayo' in Japanese. You use it to say what something is. It is a casual way to speak.

    KMT8CasualStandardCopulaSpoken OnlyOkinawaOkinawa Copula And AssertionGrammar

    Noun + やんPrimary
    な-Adjective + やん

    This word is like 'da' or 'dayo' in Japanese. You use it to say what something is. It is a casual way to speak.

    これ、わーの車くるまやん。

    This is my car. (Standard Japanese: これは私の車だよ。)

    CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeDaily LifeTravel & Transportation
    昨き日ぬぬ天てぃん気ちや、晴はりれやたん。

    Yesterday's weather was sunny. (Standard Japanese: 昨日の天気は、晴れだったよ。)

    CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWeather & Geography
    あれはタカシさんの家やーやあらん。

    That is not Takashi's house. (Standard Japanese: あれはタカシさんの家じゃないよ。)

    CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeHome & HousingFamily & Relationships
    沖うち縄なーぬ夏なつや、いっぺーあちさやん。

    Okinawa's summer is very hot. (Standard Japanese: 沖縄の夏は、とても暑いよ。)

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWeather & GeographyNature & Environment
    「この道みちで大だい丈じょう夫ぶやん」とぅ思うむてぃ進すすんだ。

    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。)

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeTravel & TransportationDaily Life

    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.

    Contrasts with(1)

    〜あらん

    This word means 'is not' or 'are not'. It is like saying 'janai' in standard Japanese. You use it to say something is not true.

    Less formal alternatives(1)

    〜やいびーん

    This word means 'is' or 'to be'. You use it in Okinawan to be very polite. It is like saying 'desu' in Japanese, but even more formal.

    〜だ / 〜だった

    This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

    Kumi logo

    Track your mastery

    Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

    Related concepts for this entry

    less_formal_than

    • 〜やいびーん

    Variants

    • 〜やが

    contrasts_with

    • 〜あらん

    Similar concepts

    • 〜やさ

    prerequisite

    • 〜だ / 〜だった

    Explore more

    Grammar dictionary›Browse all entries›