Monday, October 25, 2010

Counting Fingers

Did you know that Chinese people can count to ten on one hand? They have special hand signs for the numbers 6-10, and they are frequently used whenever numbers come up (for example, when giving prices in the market). Sometimes these hand signs help distinguish between 4 (si) and 10 (shi), which can sound alike.

Here is your mini-tutorial:






I also just came across a cool page that gives the meaning of gestures in the West and in China. There's some great Chinese translation on the page for those of you learning the language, and also interesting descriptions and pictures for the rest of us. Here it is.
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6 comments:

  1. SnapOctober 26, 2010 at 2:21 AM

    Clever...but strange!

    ReplyDelete
  2. rachaelOctober 26, 2010 at 4:11 AM

    Thanks! I always meant to have PJ and YB teach me what they were :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. EmilyOctober 26, 2010 at 9:43 AM

    The manual shortcuts make sense, but I know I would be constantly messing it up and trying to use ASL instead!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AlisonOctober 26, 2010 at 9:34 PM

    Emily -- true. Now I mix them up in both directions: ASL to Chinese and vice versa.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SarahOctober 29, 2010 at 10:56 AM

    This may make me sound like a very unobservant friend, but have you always had your ears pierced?

    ReplyDelete
  6. AlisonOctober 29, 2010 at 3:40 PM

    Actually, it makes you an observant friend, because I rarely wear earrings. I have had my ears pierced for 13 years, but I've only spent about .01% of that time with earrings in my ears.

    ReplyDelete

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