body language Japan | Tokyo Kawaii, etc.

12 taboo hand signs that are not taboo in Japan

Posted by: kirin on date

May 26th, 2012 | filed

I 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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