PocketSign
Basic

Tight Mouth for Careful Action

A tight or pressed mouth can show careful, focused, deliberate, or precise action.

All Mouth Morphemes lessons
Close-up of an ASL signer pressing lips tightly for careful or focused action

Learn It

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

Use a tight mouth when the action needs focus or care. The lips press together instead of relaxing.

This can contrast with TH. TH looks careless. A tight mouth looks careful.

Use it with actions like READ, STUDY, PLAN, FIX, or THREAD-A-NEEDLE.

Pressed lipsHold the lips together with focus.
Careful meaningUse it for precise, careful, or deliberate action.
Opposite of THTH is careless. Tight mouth is focused.

Try It

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

  1. Sign with a tight mouth to show careful reading.
  2. Sign with a tight mouth to show focused repair work.
  3. Sign with a tight mouth to show careful planning.

Simple Examples

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

ASL line. tight mouth
MeaningRead carefully.
TipThe tight mouth shows focus.
Mouth actiontight mouthPress the lips together while signing READ.
ASL line. tight mouth
MeaningFix something carefully.
TipThe mouth shape makes the action deliberate.
Mouth actiontight mouthKeep the lips tight during the careful action.
ASL line. tight mouth
MeaningPlan with care.
TipThe mouth shape adds a careful tone.
Mouth actiontight mouthUse a focused pressed-lip shape during PLAN.

Common Mistake

Do not confuse tight mouth with MM. MM is relaxed and comfortable; tight mouth has focus and tension.

Deeper Note

A little more grammar

Careful mouth shapes can vary by signer and context. The beginner goal is the contrast: careless TH versus careful pressed lips.