PocketSign
Practice

Puffed Cheeks for Many or Bulky

Puffed cheeks can show many, a lot, bulky, wide, fat, or long ago depending on the sign.

All Mouth Morphemes lessons
Close-up of an ASL signer puffing cheeks to show many or bulky

Learn It

Start with the simple version, then practice it with real signs.

Puffed cheeks make the face look full. That fullness can match a big amount, a wide object, or a long stretch of time.

Use it with signs like PEOPLE MANY, BOX BIG, ROAD LONG, or LONG-AGO.

Let the cheeks fill with air, but keep your eyes and hands clear for the sign.

Full cheeksFill the cheeks with air.
Amount or bulkUse it for many, wide, full, bulky, or long duration.
Context mattersThe sign tells whether it means many, bulky, or long ago.

Try It

Practice slowly. Make the mouth shape at the same time as the sign.

  1. Sign with puffed cheeks.
  2. Sign with puffed cheeks to show a bulky box.
  3. Sign LONG-AGO with puffed cheeks to show a long time ago.

Simple Examples

Read the ASL line first. A dark green pill names the mouth shape, not an extra sign.

ASL line . puffed cheeks
MeaningA lot of people.
TipThe cheeks add the feeling of a large crowd.
Mouth actionpuffed cheeksFill the cheeks while signing MANY.
ASL line . puffed cheeks
MeaningA bulky box.
TipThe cheeks can show fullness or bulk.
Mouth actionpuffed cheeksKeep the cheeks full during the bulky size idea.
ASL lineLONG-AGO. puffed cheeks
MeaningA long time ago.
TipThe mouth shape can stretch the time feeling.
Mouth actionpuffed cheeksUse full cheeks as the time idea stretches back.

Common Mistake

Do not use puffed cheeks just because something is important. Use it when the meaning connects to amount, bulk, width, or long time.

Deeper Note

A little more grammar

Puffed cheeks are iconic because the face looks full. ASL still relies on the manual sign to tell what kind of fullness you mean.