Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "Bush"

To sign 'bush', start with both hands in open, curved shapes in front of you, palms facing each other and fingers pointing forward. Move your hands upwards and outwards, tracing the round, voluminous shape of a bush. As you make the motion, puff your cheeks slightly to emphasize the thickness and size of the plant.

Examples Using "Bush" in a Sentence

1

The dog hid behind the bush.

Sign 'dog' and 'hide', then use the sign for 'bush' to establish what the dog is hiding behind.

2

We planted a new bush in the garden.

Sign 'garden', 'new', and 'plant', followed by the sign for 'bush' to show what was added to the yard.

3

There are many bushes in the park.

Sign 'park', then sign 'bush' multiple times, shifting your hands slightly to the side with each repetition to indicate a plural amount.

How to Sign "Bush"
To sign 'bush', start with both hands in open, curved shapes in front of you, palms facing each other and fingers pointing forward. Move your hands upwards and outwards, tracing the round, voluminous shape of a bush. As you make the motion, puff your cheeks slightly to emphasize the thickness and size of the plant.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'bush' is highly iconic, meaning it visually resembles the concept it represents. It uses your hands as classifiers to physically trace the round, full shape of a typical bush as it grows up from the ground and spreads outward. The addition of the puffed cheeks is a classic ASL technique to add a layer of visual description, naturally representing the dense, thick, and heavy foliage that characterizes a healthy bush or shrub.
Signing Tips
When signing 'bush', remember to use the puffed-cheek non-manual marker! In ASL, facial expressions are just as important as hand movements. Puffing your cheeks helps convey that an object is thick, dense, or voluminous, which perfectly describes a leafy bush. Additionally, keep your hand movements smooth and rounded rather than sharp or boxy. This ensures that you are accurately depicting the natural, organic shape of the plant growing upward and outward.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake beginners make is keeping their face completely neutral while signing. Without the puffed cheeks, the sign simply looks like you are tracing a generic round object rather than describing a thick, dense plant. Another frequent error is making the hand movement too small or too flat. Make sure your hands start close together and move outward enough to clearly show the three-dimensional volume and width of the bush.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Bush" in a Sentence
1

The dog hid behind the bush.

Sign 'dog' and 'hide', then use the sign for 'bush' to establish what the dog is hiding behind.

2

We planted a new bush in the garden.

Sign 'garden', 'new', and 'plant', followed by the sign for 'bush' to show what was added to the yard.

3

There are many bushes in the park.

Sign 'park', then sign 'bush' multiple times, shifting your hands slightly to the side with each repetition to indicate a plural amount.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to puff my cheeks for this sign?

Puffing your cheeks is a non-manual marker (NMM) in ASL used to indicate that something is thick, dense, or voluminous. For a bush, it visually represents the fullness of the leaves and branches.

Can this sign also be used for 'shrub'?

Yes, this sign works perfectly for 'shrub' or any similar round, leafy plant. You can adjust the size of your hand movement to show whether it is a large bush or a small shrub.

How do I show that there are multiple bushes?

To sign plural bushes, you can repeat the sign in different locations in your signing space. Simply sign 'bush', move your hands slightly to the right or left, and sign it again to show a cluster or row.

ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!