barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold) (12/17/85)
Since we're currently discussing learning Japanese AND gestures, it seems only appropriate to discuss the intersection of the two. Japanese gestures are (not surprisingly but perhaps disconcertingly) different than standard Western ones in a number of respects. Like the rest of the Orient, they discriminate between wiggling the fingers above the hand (summons dogs and other animals) and below (summons people). Probably similarly eating is shown by manipulating two fingers in a chopstick-like motion. A Japanese saying "It's me" points at the noise, not the heart. Waving your hand fanlike in front of your face means "I can't help you," "we're closed, or some other equivalent of "go away." The little finger signifies a woman and the thumb a man (so that saying "He's busy" while raising your little finger pinpoints the nature of the activity as sexual). Or so Seward says (and my observations confirm). However, Seward never discussed Japanese obscene gestures. Anyone out there care to do so? --Lee Gold
edwards@uwmacc.UUCP (mark edwards) (12/18/85)
In article <2522@sdcrdcf.UUCP> barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold) writes: >Since we're currently discussing learning Japanese AND gestures, it >seems only appropriate to discuss the intersection of the two. > >means "I can't help you," "we're closed, or some other equivalent of >"go away." The little finger signifies a woman and the thumb a man >(so that saying "He's busy" while raising your little finger pinpoints >the nature of the activity as sexual). I have observed these also. The little finger also means that one has a girl friend or when some one asks if one has a girl friend. Like wise with the thumb for women. The thumb put between the first two fingers means engaging or have in engaged in sex (( can we say that word here??)). The do use their middle finger to fix their glasses. As far as using their fingers to profess profanity, I don't believe they do. What about about swear words ? They use vegetables to express some like concepts. Daikon ashi - radish legs (fat legs - radishes in Japan are big) pima ko - green pepper head. (empty headed) kabocha - pumpkin head ( express disagreement with someone but I forget what) Does any one no any others ? They also use words like: chikushoo equivalent to "shit" I think baka yaro equivalent to "damn you" or "f__k you" but means you stupid fool, or foolish person. others ? mark.