Chinese number gestures

Chinesische.Zahl.Eins

Chinese number gestures are a series of hand signals used to represent the numbers 0 through 10 in Chinese culture. These gestures are widely used in daily life for purposes such as bargaining, indicating quantities, or when verbal communication is not possible. Understanding these gestures can be particularly useful for travelers and those engaging in cross-cultural communication with Chinese speakers.

Overview

Chinese number gestures are a form of non-verbal communication that uses the fingers and hands to represent numbers. This system is especially prevalent in China, Taiwan, and among the Chinese diaspora worldwide. Unlike the more universal finger counting system where numbers are simply indicated by the number of raised fingers, Chinese number gestures can convey numbers from 0 to 10 with a single hand.

Gestures

Here is a brief overview of how each number is represented:

• 0 - A closed fist represents the number zero.
• 1 - The index finger is raised to indicate the number one.
• 2 - The index and middle fingers are raised, resembling a 'V' shape, to signify two.
• 3 - Similar to the Western gesture for three, the thumb, index, and middle fingers are raised.
• 4 - All fingers except the thumb are extended, representing four.
• 5 - A spread hand with all five fingers extended signifies the number five.
• 6 - The thumb and pinky finger are extended, while the other fingers are curled into the palm, symbolizing six.
• 7 - The thumb holds down the ring finger, while the other fingers are extended, to represent seven.
• 8 - The thumb is extended and holds down the middle finger, with the other fingers extended, indicating eight.
• 9 - A hook is formed by the index finger, while the other fingers including the thumb are curled into the palm, to denote nine.
• 10 - A closed fist with the thumb extended upwards, resembling a thumbs-up, is used to represent ten.

Cultural Significance

Chinese number gestures are deeply ingrained in Chinese culture and are taught from a young age. They are particularly useful in noisy environments, for discreet communication, or when dealing with vendors in markets to avoid linguistic barriers. Additionally, these gestures reflect the ingenuity and practicality within Chinese communication methods, providing a silent yet effective means of conveying numerical information.

Usage

While these gestures are most commonly used for numbers 1 through 10, combinations of these gestures can be used to indicate larger numbers. For instance, to indicate the number 20, one might show the gesture for 2 followed by the gesture for 0. This system, however, is more commonly used for numbers under 100.

See Also

• Non-verbal communication
• Chinese culture
• Counting
• Hand signals