Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site uwmacc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!ut-sally!seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!edwards From: edwards@uwmacc.UUCP (mark edwards) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Japanese Gestures Message-ID: <1816@uwmacc.UUCP> Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 08:50:10 EST Article-I.D.: uwmacc.1816 Posted: Wed Dec 18 08:50:10 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 05:12:19 EST References: <793@rtech.UUCP> <2522@sdcrdcf.UUCP> Reply-To: edwards@uwmacc.UUCP (mark edwards) Distribution: net Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center Lines: 37 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.