Japanese Gestures and Body Language
Why Japanese people point to their nose instead of their chest to mean “me,” and other everyday gestures that don't translate word-for-word.
A surprising amount of miscommunication with body language comes down to gestures that look similar to a Western one but mean something different — or vice versa. A handful of these come up constantly in daily life.
Everyday gestures
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自分を指す | じぶんをさす jibunwosasu | pointing to one's own nose (not chest) to ask/say “me?” |
| バツ | ばつ batsu | crossing both forearms in an X shape, meaning “no,” “wrong,” or “not available” |
| おいでおいで | おいでおいで oideoide | the “come here” beckoning gesture — done with the palm facing down, waved toward oneself |
| お辞儀 | おじぎ ojigi | bowing — the depth and length signal how much respect is being shown |
The beckoning gesture that confuses visitors
In many countries, “come here” is a palm-up wave. In Japan it's the opposite: palm facing down, fingers waving inward — the same motion used by the beckoning cat, 招き猫 (maneki-neko), seen in shop windows. To someone unfamiliar with it, the gesture can look like “go away” rather than “come here,” which is a common source of confusion for first-time visitors.
Bowing and gratitude
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 会釈 | えしゃく eshaku | a small, casual nod-bow, used for brief greetings |
| 敬礼 | けいれい keirei | a deeper, formal bow, used to show real respect or apology |
| 手を合わせる | てをあわせる tewoawaseru | pressing both palms together — before/after meals, or at a shrine |
| お辞儀の角度 | おじぎのかどう ojiginokadou | “bow angle,” a phrase sometimes used to describe how deep a bow is |
Hands together, for more than one reason
Pressing the palms together shows up in more than one context: said quickly before and after a meal alongside いただきます and ごちそうさま (see essential food phrases), and held longer and with closed eyes when praying at a shrine or temple. The gesture is the same; only the pace and context tell them apart.
🔊 Tap any word in the vocabulary tables to hear it spoken.
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