How to Sign "Korean"

To sign 'Korean', start by making the sign for 'Korea'. Place your dominant flat hand at the side of your head near your eye, with your palm facing inward, and slide it down to your jawline. Then, add the 'person' marker by bringing both flat hands in front of your chest, palms facing each other, and moving them straight down.

Examples Using "Korean" in a Sentence

1

My friend is Korean.

Sign 'my', 'friend', and then 'Korean' by sliding your dominant hand down the side of your face and finishing with the person marker.

2

I met a Korean student.

Sign 'I', 'meet', 'Korean' (including the person marker), and then 'student' to describe who you interacted with.

3

Are you Korean?

Point to the person to sign 'you', sign 'Korean' with the person marker, and raise your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question.

How to Sign "Korean"
To sign 'Korean', start by making the sign for 'Korea'. Place your dominant flat hand at the side of your head near your eye, with your palm facing inward, and slide it down to your jawline. Then, add the 'person' marker by bringing both flat hands in front of your chest, palms facing each other, and moving them straight down.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The first part of the sign, representing Korea, is believed to trace the shape of the chin strap on a 'gat', a traditional hat worn by Korean men in the past. The second part is the standard ASL marker for a person.
Signing Tips
Keep your fingers together and your palm flat when sliding your hand down the side of your face. The transition into the two-handed 'person' marker should feel smooth and continuous.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is forgetting to add the 'person' marker at the end when referring to a Korean individual. Without it, you are only signing the country of 'Korea'.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Korean" in a Sentence
1

My friend is Korean.

Sign 'my', 'friend', and then 'Korean' by sliding your dominant hand down the side of your face and finishing with the person marker.

2

I met a Korean student.

Sign 'I', 'meet', 'Korean' (including the person marker), and then 'student' to describe who you interacted with.

3

Are you Korean?

Point to the person to sign 'you', sign 'Korean' with the person marker, and raise your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between signing 'Korea' and 'Korean'?

To sign 'Korea', you only perform the first part of the sign by sliding your flat hand down the side of your face. To sign 'Korean' as a nationality or person, you add the two-handed 'person' marker at the end.

Do I use the person marker if I'm talking about the Korean language?

No, the person marker is specifically for people. If you are talking about the language, you typically just sign 'Korea' followed by the sign for 'language', or simply sign 'Korea' depending on the context of your sentence.

Which hand should I use for the first part of the sign?

You should use your dominant hand to slide down the side of your face. When you transition to the person marker, bring up your non-dominant hand so both hands move downward together.

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