Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "Chair"

Extend the first arm across the body with the palm facing down, make a fist with only the index and middle fingers extended. The second hand will be palm down in a fist with only the index finger and middle finger extended partially. Bring the second hand's bent fingers to rest twice on the fingers that are fully extended. Only doing the motion once is the verb "sit."

Examples Using "Chair" in a Sentence

1

Please bring a chair.

To sign this, you would sign 'PLEASE', then 'BRING', and finally sign 'CHAIR' by tapping your bent index and middle fingers twice over the extended fingers of your base hand.

2

My chair is broken.

Sign 'MY', then sign 'CHAIR' using the double-tap motion with your dominant hand's bent fingers over your non-dominant hand's extended fingers, followed by the sign for 'BROKEN'.

3

Is this chair taken?

Point to the chair, sign 'CHAIR' by resting your bent fingers twice on your base hand's extended fingers, and then sign 'TAKEN' while raising your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question.

How to Sign "Chair"
Extend the first arm across the body with the palm facing down, make a fist with only the index and middle fingers extended. The second hand will be palm down in a fist with only the index finger and middle finger extended partially. Bring the second hand's bent fingers to rest twice on the fingers that are fully extended. Only doing the motion once is the verb "sit."
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'chair' is highly iconic, meaning it visually represents the object it describes. Your non-dominant hand, with its extended index and middle fingers, acts as the flat seat of the chair or a bench. Your dominant hand, with its bent index and middle fingers, represents a person's legs bending at the knees as they sit down. The double tapping motion is a standard ASL grammatical rule used to indicate a noun (the chair itself) rather than a verb.
Signing Tips
When signing 'chair', pay close attention to the number of taps. You want to make sure you tap your dominant hand's bent fingers onto your non-dominant hand's extended fingers exactly twice. Keep your movements small and controlled. Your non-dominant hand acts as the base or the 'seat' of the chair, so keep it steady and flat across your body with the palm facing down. Relax your shoulders to make the sign look natural and fluid.
Common Mistakes
A very common mistake beginners make is only tapping the fingers together once. Tapping just a single time changes the meaning of the word entirely from the noun 'chair' to the verb 'sit'. Another frequent error is using the wrong handshape, such as extending all fingers instead of just the index and middle fingers. Make sure both hands are using the specific two-finger handshapes described.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Chair" in a Sentence
1

Please bring a chair.

To sign this, you would sign 'PLEASE', then 'BRING', and finally sign 'CHAIR' by tapping your bent index and middle fingers twice over the extended fingers of your base hand.

2

My chair is broken.

Sign 'MY', then sign 'CHAIR' using the double-tap motion with your dominant hand's bent fingers over your non-dominant hand's extended fingers, followed by the sign for 'BROKEN'.

3

Is this chair taken?

Point to the chair, sign 'CHAIR' by resting your bent fingers twice on your base hand's extended fingers, and then sign 'TAKEN' while raising your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'chair' and 'sit'?

The difference is entirely in the movement. For 'chair' (the noun), you tap your bent fingers on your base hand twice. For 'sit' (the verb), you do the exact same motion but only bring your fingers down to rest once.

Which hand should be the base hand?

Your non-dominant hand should be the base hand (the one extending straight across your body). Your dominant hand should be the one doing the moving and tapping. If you are right-handed, your left hand is the base.

Do my fingers need to be tightly together?

Yes, for both hands, your index and middle fingers should be kept close together. Keeping them together clearly represents the legs of a person sitting on the solid surface of the seat.

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