How to Sign "Hit"

To sign 'hit', hold your non-dominant hand in front of you with the index finger pointing up and the palm facing sideways. Form your dominant hand into a fist (an 'S' handshape). Move your dominant fist forward to sharply strike the side of your non-dominant index finger.

Examples Using "Hit" in a Sentence

1

Please do not hit your brother.

Sign 'please', 'not', and then use the sign for 'hit' with a firm, sharp motion to emphasize the rule.

2

I accidentally hit my arm on the door.

Use the sign for 'hit' to describe the physical impact, followed by pointing to your arm to show where it happened.

3

The car hit the tree.

While advanced signers might use classifiers to show the vehicles, the general sign for 'hit' works well here to convey the collision.

How to Sign "Hit"
To sign 'hit', hold your non-dominant hand in front of you with the index finger pointing up and the palm facing sideways. Form your dominant hand into a fist (an 'S' handshape). Move your dominant fist forward to sharply strike the side of your non-dominant index finger.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is highly iconic and visually logical. The non-dominant index finger acts as a classifier representing a person, object, or target, while the dominant fist represents the physical action of striking it.
Signing Tips
Ensure the movement of your dominant hand is sharp and stops abruptly upon contact with your non-dominant finger to clearly convey the impact of a hit.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is moving both hands toward each other. Remember to keep your non-dominant hand perfectly still as the target.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Hit" in a Sentence
1

Please do not hit your brother.

Sign 'please', 'not', and then use the sign for 'hit' with a firm, sharp motion to emphasize the rule.

2

I accidentally hit my arm on the door.

Use the sign for 'hit' to describe the physical impact, followed by pointing to your arm to show where it happened.

3

The car hit the tree.

While advanced signers might use classifiers to show the vehicles, the general sign for 'hit' works well here to convey the collision.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this sign to say a song is a 'hit'?

No, this sign specifically refers to physical impact or striking. If you want to say a song or movie is a 'hit', you should use the sign for 'popular' or 'success'.

Should I use this sign for hitting a baseball?

While you can, it is much more common and visually accurate in ASL to mime the action of swinging a bat when talking about hitting a baseball.

Does it matter which hand forms the fist?

Yes, you should always use your dominant hand as the fist that does the hitting, while your non-dominant hand acts as the stationary target.

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