12 taboo hand signs that are not taboo in Japan
Posted by: kirin on 
May 26th, 2012 | 
Filed under: Something InterestingI found this interesting T-shirt that shows 10 taboo hand signs that we, the Japanese may like to use without knowing they are taboo in some countries. Of course, Tripadvisor strongly recommends that we should not wear it outside Japan. lol ***information source: Tripadvisor
Let’s see one by one… ^ ^;;
1: It’s a peace sign we love to have everywhere especially when we take photos! But it says this sign is considered a taboo in Greece. It says it’s an insulting sign that derives from the past when Greek people used to throw things at criminals with 2 fingers.
2: Japanese people do not always use this sign but it’s a very popular thumbs-up sign in a country like the U.S, but it has something to do with sexually insulting meaning and so is considered a taboo in Middle East, West Africa, and South America. Oh! let me add that some old Japanese men sometimes use this gesture to refer to a boyfriend, but it’s not common in the entire society.
3: It’s an OK sign in Japan. I think most of Japanese people recognize it more familiar than thumbs-up sign. But it says this sign is considered a taboo in France as it implies zero that means useless, incapable or inefficient.
4: It’s a thumbs-down sign that is considered bad in the U.S, the U.K, and etc. But I don’t think Japanese people use it often anyway.
5: Some old Japanese men (like those who I mentioned at No.2 above) like to use this gesture to refer to a girlfriend or a mistress, but same as above, it’s not common. This sign is considered a taboo in China. The sign insults a bastard.
6: Haha! As you see it’s bad in the U.S, U.K and etc. Most of young Japanese people will recognize this sign nowadays but I doubt if the elder Japanese people do. Some people happen to point out things with middle finger instead of index finger, without any reason in Japan. They must be careful… Oh, speaking of pointing out something with index finger, it’s considered a taboo in Malaysia and some Muslim countries right? I remember they used a thumb to point out a direction for example.
7: It implies a sexual organ and is an insulting sign in Turkey but I think I know it’s bad at somewhere else too…where was it?
8: It shows horns of a weak kid’s and is an insulting gesture in the Mediterranean. I guess I heard that this means someone is cheating in Mexico…I’m not sure. I wish to have a comment from Mexican readers. ^ ^;;
9: It implies to put mud on the face and is considered insulting in Greece. Well I think most of Japanese people will raise a hand and show the palm like this at various occasions. How about a hi five then?
10: It’s a reverse peace sign that Japanese people often use with no specific intention, but is sexually insulting in the countries like U.K and Australia. I wonder how they feel about seeing Japanese girls making this sign on purikura or when they take photos for example. :p
11: It’s a sexually insulting sign in the U.K, but not familiar in Japan.
12: It implies a sexual organ and is considered insulting in Vietnam.
I don’t think of the hand signs that are considered taboo in Japan. Have you ever had any embarrassing experiences in Japan or other countries in regard to gesture, body language and hand signs?
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May 26th, 2012 at 11:23 am
Such an interesting post! Thank you for sharing this information. I always see #8 in anime mostly and could not understand what it meant in Japan (in Europe it is used in heavy metal concerts and means the horns of the devil or something like that). As a Greek I can also tell you that #1 means peace here too and it is very popular to make this sign and not a taboo at all. As for the criminal with 2 fingers story, I have heard it for #6 (but I cannot remember the details).
#7 is considered very rude here too. As for number #9 it is insulting yes, but not when you do in the high five move. It is if you do it in front of the face of someone else as it means something like you think they are stupid.
May 26th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Really interesting post! :O
May 26th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
I gave the thumbs-up sign a lot at a Pakistani restaurant in England once. The waiter didn't say anything, but now that I think about it, he did look uncomfortable. Oops! But he was very nice and friendly and we had a good conversation otherwise.
May 26th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Dear Kirin,
I like the topic of this post very much because it reminded me of the body language syllabus I studied in university, and which I help in teaching it to students too!
They're taught how body language differs from a culture to another. 
Regarding the uses of such hand signs in Egypt, actually, I'd like to tell you the following:
1- It seems obviously that we borrowed the peace sign (1) from you, the Japanese, recently because it's been used a lot with the same meaning in Egypt since a few years. ^_^
2- The sign (2) is commonly used by the way, and it's not a taboo at all in Egypt!
It means here "Great job!" or "Bravo!" and used to encourage people who did a good job. It's opposite is sign (4) and used when we boo to someone who made something wrong or bad! 
It's not a taboo too.
3- Sign (9) has a cultural connotation in Egypt. It's used, but usually by superstitious people only
, to avoid envy by others. When people here feel somebody is envying them, they show their palm with the five fingers spread, as the sign shows above, in front of others face! I rarely use it, but I do with close friends as joking only! 
It's not a taboo too.
4- Of course, sign (6) is a taboo even in Egypt. But it's interesting to know that we in Egypt have our own version of the middle finger taboo sign, which's somehow different and significant from sign (6) :LOL:
5- As for the rest of the signs, we almost don't use them at all.
May 26th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
So interesting!! I think that the only two that are considered an insult in Spain are number 6 and 8. The rest are not. The only one that I have seen being used in Spain for something sexual, is number 10. In those cases, it is used by some girls along with their own tongue between them. In those cases, the fingers represent the legs of other woman, so imagine the rest. Did it make sense? I didn't want to be explicit.
I have never had an embarrassing experience because I have never being abroad yet. But thank you for sharing! It's good to know.
May 26th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Oh, it's nice to learn this! I never knew nr. 5 was taboo in China neither that there was a difference between 1 and 10! Ö
Once, when I was in a restaurant in Berlin I wanted to get the waiters attention. It was kind of crowded and people where talking loudly, so I raised my arm and hand straight in the air while saying 'Hey," but I think the waiter must've heard it as a "heil" and that combined with my stance and arm was… Not a good combination.
But luckily he choose to ignore it – but still quite embarrasing!
Thanks for these explanations Kirin! ^_^
May 27th, 2012 at 12:07 am
Wait what, I'm chinese but I didn't know that the pinky means bastard in China… I'm such a fail D: OTL and the pinky is only used by old japanese men ?? But I've seen that quite a few times on japanese dramas, used by young guys…
May 27th, 2012 at 9:26 am
Thanks Kirin, this is a pretty interesting post
I’ve always been interested in this kind of hand signs because it can be helpful to learn them BEFORE you travel somewhere (I can only imagine what will happen if you learn them at your own expenses.. 
). Until now I just knew 10 in the UK, 6 (obviously) and the Japanese meaning of 1, 2, 3, 5. Here in Italy only 6 and 8 are used as insults. The latter, as you said, implies that the person you’re talking to is a cuckold, but it’s actually a pretty common gesture to refer to someone as ‘bastard’ and it’s even used as a charm to ward off misfortune (a sort of touching wood) with fingers pointing down. Italians have lots of hand gestures: that’s how we express in a non-verbal way, without making a big deal about their meaning 
May 27th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Nice. I would buy this T-Shirt for sure!!! It's so amazing.
Signs you don't like to do in Spain are 4, 6 and 8. They mean: 4 = you use this to say something is really bad and you want it to not happen again, for example, a TV shop that is really bad and annoying or someone is singing very bad and you want it to get kicked out. hahaha This symbol comes from ancient roman culture. Remember this symbol being used by roman emperors during gladiators fights?
The 6 is something like an insult. You use this when you want to say other people to "go to hell" or "fuck you". You shouldn't use this here unless you want to start a fight, so tell your husband this because he could get some serious trouble, and specially here at Spain, where people could think you are "dirty Chinese" (some people here doesn't like much Chinese people)
And number 8, is not much used, but everyone understands. It's used to demonstrate that someone's wife or husband or GF or BG is cheating him/her. You don't want someone to show this sign to you. If someone does, then you should slap your husband, at least.
5, 7, 9, and 11 means nothing here.
The number 12, is somehow used and means "I want luck". For example, some people use this while waiting for the lotto numbers and if they want all luck in the world being with them, or any other situation where you need a lot of luck.
Symbol 1 means "victory", but not peace. Use it when you win a marathon race or whatever. You could use it when taking a photo, but people will guess what have you won. :p There is no difference between 1 and 10.
Symbol 2 means "Ok, I'm agree" or also "it's ok". You use is either when someone asks you to do something and you are going to do it, or when someone asks you if something is good or not. You say "yeah, it's good" with this. Everyone will understand this.
To point at something, here you should use the index finger.
Sometimes it's used the thumb finger to point at something, but when that "something" is behind or at your left/right.. But you could use your index too. Use the left thunb to point at something at your left, and right thumb to point at right.
Do you ask about problems with symbols? Well, I never got a problem using them basically because I never came the situation to use them in a foreign country. But I got some problems when trying to say other people certain numbers using my fingers.
For example, in Spain, the number one is said using the index finger, the two is the index + ring finger. and so on. The number 4 is all finger up except the thumb. BUT in France, the numbers starts with the thumb instead the index finger, so If you use the index only, in France, you can be saying 2, instead of 1. You can confuse people there.
I think something similar happens in Germany, but I'm not sure.
May 27th, 2012 at 10:56 am
I don't think #8 is not common in our society.
It's good you are from Greece. Then it's OK to make a peace sign there. ^ ^;; Good! Oh! 7 is rude in Greek too. OK… High five is OK, hahaha!
Thank you for your comment, Cel. ^ ^
May 27th, 2012 at 10:56 am
Thank you! ^_^
May 27th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Haha! It's possible that he had sort of confused feelings but he should be OK because that was the restaurant in the U.K, he should know British culture as well.
May 27th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Hi Salma,
Thank you for sharing your case in Egypt. I now learn from you that you use peace sign like we use, and thumbs-up and thumbs-down like how Americans use. That's interesting. ^ ^
May 27th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Hi Laura,
I guess No.6 is rude at most of the places, regardless of the U.S or U.K.
Oh you don't have to be explicit, haha, I guess I know what you mean. But I never imagined it's girls that make such signs.
May 27th, 2012 at 11:12 am
I didn't know the difference between No.1 (peace sign) and No.10 (reverse peace sign) until lately either. So it was a big surprise because many of us, the Japanese girls love to have reverse peace sign too. ^ ^;;
I don't know if what you did in Berlin was considered rude but thanks for sharing. ^ ^;;
Take care!
May 27th, 2012 at 11:17 am
Really? Young guys do not usually use that sign and usually old men like to use it somehow. ^ ^;; As for the pinky, it's the smallest finger and showing it relates someone who does a bad job. That's the reason according to the T-shirt. Maybe this idea is not so common then. :p
May 27th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Thanks Linda,
Then it's the same as Spain. In Italy No. 6 and 8 are insulting signs, OK. Thank you for explaining about cuckold, yes I guess that's what I heard in Mexico, for example at the situation that a girlfriend is flirting with other guy or something…:p
May 27th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Hi Alberto,
Thank you for explaining about No.8, I guess that's what I heard of from my Mexican friends long time ago.
In Japan,
1= index finger
2=index finger and middle finger
3=index finger, middle finger, and ring finger
4=index, middle, ring and little fingers
5=No.9 in the T-shirt
Then we could also confuse French people?! x__x
May 27th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
yes #8 for us Mexicans means that you are either being cheated or have been cheated on.
It means "cuerno" [horn] which is a slang term used when saying that someone cheated on you.
So if you throw that sign up to a couple that you know you are telling them one thing, either he/she is cheating or he/she has been cheated.
May 28th, 2012 at 8:36 am
Yes, you can confuse French people. And I think German people too.
1= thunb
2= thumb + index
3= thumb + index + middle…
…and so on.
That confusion happened once to me when trying to explain to a French tourist how much distance was to the cathedral (1 kilometer, but I think he understood 2 kilometer). Also he was trying to ask me something in Spanish but with French pronunciation and accentuation. I couldn't understand what he wanted to say. :p
May 28th, 2012 at 9:14 am
That's interesting, there're a few signs that I use to use usually and I have no idea of the meaning of these in other places, I will try to remember if I travel abroad. And The simbol number 6 is like say to another, fuck you , it is very common if you are angry with someone XD
May 28th, 2012 at 10:06 am
Hi Kirin!
I just discovered your amazing blog. ^^
This is a very interesting topic. I'm from France and I use the n°3 sign as a OK sign. Never heard it was a taboo Oo.
There was a game some used to play in middle school, if you make n°3 sign and someone looks at it, you get hit pretty hard on the shoulder.
Or a variant of it is when you put a finger inside the hole then… hahaha
6 & 7 I recognize as insulting, yes.
About 8, my chinese friend told me it means that you hate someone. but if you add your thumb, it means love.
N°12, isn't the same sign you do when you tell you're not going to tell anyone something (generally secret) but with your finger crossed, it means you actually don't mean it?
May 28th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Kirin, Do you know some japanese websites like web kare? Thank you!
May 29th, 2012 at 3:16 am
I thought the only insulting hand gesture was #6 which is quite universal, I think. But the rest… ah, quite educational haha.
May 29th, 2012 at 8:30 am
I hate it when my female students pose for photograph with the #10 sign. It refers to the female privates. =.=" The boys know about it, so I don't know why the girls are ignorant.
May 29th, 2012 at 9:09 am
Haha, I can't imagine how the Spanish in French pronunciation sounds like. lol
May 29th, 2012 at 9:16 am
Yay, a comment from a Mexican!
Yes, that's exactly what I thought I heard from Mexican friends before, and thank you for the comment! ^__^ Gracias~~
May 29th, 2012 at 9:18 am
Yeah I guess most of young Japanese people can recognize that sign but we normally don't use it in our society. Maybe in our culture we don't show anger or insult in such way.
May 29th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Hi Rozen,
Yay, a comment from a French! Oh then it sounds OK to make no.3 sign in France?! I find what's spoken in the T-shirt is not always true after exchanges of comments with people from those countries…:p
May 29th, 2012 at 9:22 am
What is web kare?
May 29th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Yeah no.6 is almost universal but I sometimes see people pointing out things with that finger in Japan…hahaha ^ ^;;
May 29th, 2012 at 9:25 am
It's possible JP magazines show girls and models with that pose, because in our culture there's no difference between no. 1 and 10. -__- Your female students might be influenced by them…??
May 29th, 2012 at 11:30 am
It is a japanese website that you can make a virtual boyfriend. But, It is now closed. Do you know some other websites where could I make a virtual boyfriend?
Do you know some japanese websites that where could I get cute gif? I hope its free.
Sorry if it is unrelated to you're post. Hope you can help me!
Thank you very much! <3
May 30th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Sorry I'm quite useless to you, I don't know such website. x__x
But as for free gif websites, I found the followings for example. Maybe you can check them out using Google translate or something. http://www.civillink.net/sozai/move.html http://gifanimeya.com/ http://www.sozai-link.com/html/01_05.html
May 30th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
I would say Number 6 is taboo in Moslem Countrsy its very dangerous when you make that in SAudi-Arabia you can go to the Jail so Caution
June 3rd, 2012 at 3:57 am
To the jail?? Wow! That's very dangerous!! *0*
June 3rd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Interesting post! Pointing things with index finger is not taboo in malaysia but some people prefer to point using thumb because it is more polite. Most people use index finger though especially youngsters and among friends. Most of the time i use thumb to point at things. Many people use thumb to point things when talking to older people, customer or strangers.
June 3rd, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Ha ha, I'm English and I have no idea what #11 means! But yes, #10 is considered swearing in the UK, and means something along the lines of "F**k you". But girls that are fans of Japanese fashion and see Japanese girls using this gesture know that it is a backwards peace sign to them! I make this gesture in photos the same way a Japanese girl would, so I hope people who see my photos know I mean it as peace! XD
June 4th, 2012 at 12:17 am
Hey,
I am french, love this blog firstly, and secondly i wanted to say that the 3rd sign is not rude in France, it means "ok" as well like "well done, it's perfect" we do this sign, but it means zero or bad only if the form is really round, like O. And my boyfriend is english, we do the 10th sign in lots of photo it just means "yeah cool", nothing sexual at all !!! unless you put the tong between the fingers…
June 5th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
I see! Then that was for politeness, not because of Muslim. Sorry for my misunderstanding. It was impressing to me to see people pointing with thumb. That was because I was a hotel guest and a tourist. I see. ^ ^
June 5th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Haha! I really wondered how the U.K people who see Japanese fashion magazines think of that sign. You may have some complex feelings to make that sign. ^ ^;; Thank you for your comment.
June 5th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Thank you and welcome to TKE blog. ^ ^
It's interesting to hear comments from the people from those countries in the post. Then it's OK to make No.3 sign in France. ^ ^
June 25th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
you guys are so damn ignorant that it's almost unbelievable.
8 is the sign of the DEVIL. it's a mock against Jesus Christ by SATANICS.
the unbelieving world (basically most of the people of the world) think of it as just an insult towards others, but it's meaning is much more significant. It started as a sign of ALLIEGANCE TO SATAN and it still is.
You may think that since in Japan (or wherever) you have decided that it means something else, so it is, BUT IT IS NOT!
It's a devil inspired sign and those that do it are of the devil, and that's just FACT, whether you believe it or not.
June 27th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Oh I didn't know that. So you mean No.8 is the worst sign above all. I think many people make this sign without knowing such.
August 5th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Hello! I've just discovered your lovely blog and thought I would comment on this ^^
)
I'm from England and I'll say what I know about each one
1) We use as a peace sign, nothing more
2) thumbs up meaning that's good or showing agreement
3) Not really used but it's known as showing approval, I think it is commonly thought of as enjoyment of a meal (coming from the lips and opening the hand) I heard in some places it is used as an insult referring to somebody as a private body part (bum region
4) Thumbs down disapproval against something or to communicate bad news to somebody (only usually when you can't speak easily – some distance between the people or something)
5) Never seen this one before
6) mainly American I think but used I hear it sometimes used with the phrase "swivel on this" or "sit on this" very rude and offensive
7) Never seen this one ^^
8) symbolises the devil "diablo" but commonly used as a symbol in heavy metal music (sometimes with the thumb out – which actually means love in sign language – at least here!) there are apparently a lot of interpretations of this though
9) I know this only as a "high five" or as a greeting for hello/goodbye but sometimes the hand is waved during this
10) This in the UK is similar to number 6 and is very common as an insult, it can be used mockingly or seriously. It tends to be a symbol for a swear word phrase (cursing) meaning "get lost" but much more impolite haha however it is sometimes used on photographs as a playful pose, I think the body language is essential with this!
11) I have never seen this! Ever! So I don't know how correct the information is that says it is rude in the UK…
12) In England this means good luck! Very positive symbol, either wishing yourself luck or for others. It can also be used by children though as a way of lying without feeling bad haha. If fingers are crossed it somehow means they can lie lol quite strange.
August 6th, 2012 at 3:21 am
Hi Meownowraa,
Thank you for your comment to each sign. Body language can be confusing from time to time depending on cultural background. A certain sign is considered good at one country while it's pretty rude in the other country. Hmm… @w@
August 29th, 2012 at 10:02 am
11 is a vulgar sexual gesture called "the shocker" 0_o
November 14th, 2012 at 10:48 am
Very interesting, have never even thought about hand gestures meaning different things in other cultures before but always good to know so thought I would add what the all mean in New Zealand. Sorry if I use "slang" you dont understand I will try as best I can to avoid it but we use it alot here.
1.Peace
2. Cool, good job, like or yes
3, ok, exactly right (spot on) or little bit
4. Not cool, dont like or no
5. Doesn't really mean anything but as kids my brothers and I would do it to eachother as a replacement for 6 to insult each other without getting in trouble if our Mum saw us
6. is an insult it means you suck, you annoy me or I hate you
7. Means nothing I'm aware of but if you tried to punch someone with you hand like that you would probablt break your thumb
8. Is devil horns or a wolf but isn't an insult either its used mostly by people who like heavy rock music and is usually held above your head to say something is awesome, cool etc (oh Cool here means popular)
9. means a lazy wave or high 5 (tip: if someone does this to you while driving in a different car to the one you are driving it means thank-you if you do it back it means you're welcome. Sometimes they will only left trier fingers over the steering wheel that still means thank-you)
10. means the same thing as 6 but is considered a little bit more of a playful version still dont do it to anyone you are annoyed with in NZ
11. means east side, its one of those American things some of NZ have addapted into their culture that doesn't really belong but is recognised by most, its not considered an insult as such but as it can be gang related its best to stay away from hand signs like that in our "big" cities. It also has a sexual meaning to do with where a male might put his fingers but you dont need to know the details, just avoid it all together, its safer
12. is fingers crossed it means good luck and is a positive sign. means you are hoping for something in particular to go well for you or the person you are talking to.
Happy traveling all
November 14th, 2012 at 10:56 am
hey if like here in NZ some "youth" in the UK have taken on some American gang culture 11. may mean east side, gang culture while not popular in most of society can be dangerous if used in the wrong situation.
November 17th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Hi Mojo,
Thank you for your explanation from NZ way of viewing.
I understand your English, thank you for your kindness.
December 12th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
In Mexico number 8 may mean that someone is cheating on you, but it also means that you will get nothing in remuneration for something you have already given to the other person.
December 13th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Yes, I thought I heard of that from Mexican friends. ^ ^ Thank you for telling me, my memory was correct. Yet I didn't know another meaning that you just told me. Thanks for sharing!
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