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1、Hand SignsGenerally listed in order of frequency, hand signs are very circumstantial. Men use them more than women, though this will depend on who is watching. As a foreign male, students generally feel freer using hand language with me, than, for example, with my wife who is Japanese and commands m
2、ore authority and thus more respectful formality. Also, as I wish to be aware of the feelings and opinions of my students, I often intercept messages not meant for my eyes.1. Come here (Chotto.oide)Used when calling someone towards you, this gesture resembles a Western-style good-bye, often confusin
3、g foreigners. With a somewhat limp wrist, flap four fingers in the direction of the person you want to attract. Generally not recommended for superiors, it is still considered preferable to yelling.2. Good-bye(often accompanied with the English loan-word bye-bye) Fingers fully extended, the hand mov
4、ed left and right rapidly. Compare with the Japanese Come here #1.3. NoWaving the hand, thumb towards the face, back and forth as if fanning in short strokes, means no, not me, or no thank you, depending on the situation. Used a great deal by students who do not know the appropriate English expressi
5、on, or to avoid being embarrassed about their inability to speak English. The more emphatic the wave the more emphatic the No.4. Excuse me (Sumimasen)Used when cutting between two people, or as a general apology. Derived from a Buddhist sign for blessing, similar to the two-handed salutation used in
6、 Southeast Asia but with only one hand. Hand flat, thumb near the nose, head and back slightly bent, eyes averted downward.5. Writing Kanji (Chinese Characters)A form of thinking out loud, or spelling out a message, Japanese often write with their finger, onto the palm of their hand, on their thigh
7、when sitting, or into the air. By visualizing the character it helps to distinguish which character from several with the same pronunciation.6. Peace/Victory SignCan on rare occasions have the meaning of Peace, as in I didnt mean to make you angry, yet most commonly used as a playful gesture when po
8、sing for snapshots. Also commonly used as a symbol of success, as in the successful completion of a difficult question. Primarily used by students when clowning for friends, this is sometimes used as a greeting to foreigners.7. Jan-Ken (Choosing)This is the first hand game learned by children. This
9、important game is used often by students to choose someone from a group of two or more, as when determining who goes first or who gets the last piece of candy.Players shout Jan ken pon! and simultaneously form their hands into one of three possible shapes. Gu a stone, Choki scissors, or Pa paper.A s
10、tone defeats scissors, because scissors cannot cut a stone. Paper defeats a stone, because paper can wrap a stone. Scissors defeat paper, because scissors can cut paper.8. CountingOpposite to that of the West, when counting start with the fingers extended, and then fold fingers into a fist, starting
11、 with the thumb and finishing with the little finger. Using the same hand folded in a fist raise the little finger for six, and continue until an open hand again.Adjusting to this system quickly can prevent misunderstandings during game playing, remember, for example, the Japanese sign for two reads
12、 three to the Western eye.9. Indicating numbersWith a closed fist, raise the index finger for one, middle and index for two, etc. using the thumb last.10. Something smells (Kusai!)Very similar to the West, these can be used quite innocently, or to be insulting. Describes all bad smells including bad
13、 breath and body odor, but not in the American sense of That movie stunk! (That movie was bad). Done by pinching the nose with the index finger and thumb, And/or by waving the hand, as if fanning away a bad smell, in front of the face.I have found that Japanese students are generally sensitive to sm
14、ells. At times I too have been tempted to use the gesture, but do not, for in Japan cleanliness is next to Godliness, and accusing someone of smelling, justified or not, can be a grave insult.11. Oni (goblin)Indicates an angry person. Both Index fingers extend upward and slightly forward, on either
15、side of the head like horns, usually the head is tilted slightly forward. Wiggle the fingers for emphasis. Often used by students when talking about their parents, Ive seen one class use it to warn the next class of my bad mood.12. Lets go eat.Index and middle finger extended in front of mouth to re
16、semble chopsticks, as if shoveling food from the other hand, which is cupped like a bowl. Students have used this to remind me to break for lunch.13. Laying it on ThickA hand gesture of grinding as if with a mortar and pestle, is used to describe someone exaggerating or complimenting in order to see
17、k favor.14. MoneyFingers in the shape of a coin. Similar to an OK sign with an accent on the roundness. Traditionally discussing money was considered vulgar. Samurai seldom touched money. So this sign, though common among males, is not encouraged.15. Pa! (Coo-Coo!, Crazy!)Place a fist along side the
18、 head and open it quickly, suggests someone is stupid or crazy. Used both in fun or in criticism, as in the West.16. Tengu (Long-nosed goblin)Describes a conceited braggart. A clenched fist held in front of the face, suggesting a long nose, like the goblin Tengu.17. Clashing SwordsPeople are quarrel
19、ing, can be indicated by hitting the index fingers together as if in a sword fight.18. Lets go for a drink/We went drinkingImitates a sake cup tipped for drinking. Fingers, as if holding a small sake cup, tilted towards the mouth as when drinking.Though originally used by business men, college stude
20、nts use this when talking about their drinking escapades. More recently, chugging a beer glass symbolically has replaced the traditional sake cup.19. SushiResembles how sushi chefs prepare sushi and is used when talking about sushi. Index and middle finger of one hand slapped into the palm of the ot
21、her. As sushi is a special kind of meal this means only sushi and not for eating generally (see #12 for eating in general).20. PromiseTo make a solemn promise lock little fingers with someone. Though a bit childish I have actually seen the Prime Minister of Japan use it to accent a point.21. Father
22、FigureThe thumb raised can mean father, the boss, or a superior.22. Woman Raised little finger, can be some what vulgar when suggesting a married mans lover. It is often used recently in humorous TV commercials and so now in classroom humor. Suggests a woman is involved in some way .23. To stealTrad
23、itionally used among thieves to suggest stealing or when talking about a thief. I have seen this used among male college students, in both seriousness in discussing a loss or in humor. Hook the index finger. Students have used this with a nod to suggest a wrong doing, without actually mentioning any
24、 names.24. PregnancyA subtle sign for pregnancy is vomiting, used primarily in theater and on TV, though I have seen students use this when teasing each other.A more direct hand sign is to move the hand in front of the stomach in a rounded arch, depicting the shape of a pregnant women. This is not c
25、onsidered rude unless of course the pregnancy is unwanted or a secret. Usually used instead of actually saying what may be a delicate matter.This was used in my class once, to explain a students absence. I assumed she was having an abortion. It was also used after students learned my wife and I were
26、 expecting a child. Students when not knowing appropriate Western etiquette will often use body gestures before asking directly.There are a variety of Japanese gestures for sexual acts, as well as students who may have learned the Western equivalents, and I see them used among male students often, much in the same way they are used by male students in the West, though generally not as overtly.