How to Sign "Looking"

Form a 'C' shape with your dominant hand and place it near your dominant eye, as if you are looking through a small telescope. Move your hand in a continuous, small circular motion in front of your face. Keep your facial expression engaged, perhaps furrowing your eyebrows slightly, to show that you are actively searching or looking for something.

Examples Using "Looking" in a Sentence

1

I am looking for my keys.

Sign 'I', then use the 'C' handshape near your eye moving in a circle for 'looking', followed by the sign for 'keys'. Furrow your eyebrows to show you are actively searching.

2

What are you looking for?

Point to the person for 'you', sign 'looking' using the circular 'C' handshape motion, and then sign 'what'. Keep your eyebrows furrowed throughout to indicate a WH-question.

3

We spent all day looking for the dog.

Sign 'dog', then use the 'looking' sign with a prolonged, slightly larger circular motion. Add a tired or frustrated facial expression to emphasize that the search took a long time.

How to Sign "Looking"
Form a 'C' shape with your dominant hand and place it near your dominant eye, as if you are looking through a small telescope. Move your hand in a continuous, small circular motion in front of your face. Keep your facial expression engaged, perhaps furrowing your eyebrows slightly, to show that you are actively searching or looking for something.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is highly iconic and visually represents holding a spyglass, magnifying glass, or telescope up to your eye. The circular motion mimics the physical action of scanning an area or thoroughly searching your surroundings to find a missing object.
Signing Tips
To make your sign look natural, remember that facial expressions are a crucial part of ASL grammar. When signing 'looking' (as in searching for something), furrow your eyebrows slightly to show concentration. Keep the circular motion smooth and steady, and ensure the 'C' shape stays near your eye level without actually touching your face.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake beginners make is using this sign for the wrong context. This 'C' handshape sign specifically means 'looking for' or 'searching.' If you want to say 'look at that' or 'you look nice,' you would use completely different signs. Another mistake is making the circles too large; keep the motion relatively small.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Looking" in a Sentence
1

I am looking for my keys.

Sign 'I', then use the 'C' handshape near your eye moving in a circle for 'looking', followed by the sign for 'keys'. Furrow your eyebrows to show you are actively searching.

2

What are you looking for?

Point to the person for 'you', sign 'looking' using the circular 'C' handshape motion, and then sign 'what'. Keep your eyebrows furrowed throughout to indicate a WH-question.

3

We spent all day looking for the dog.

Sign 'dog', then use the 'looking' sign with a prolonged, slightly larger circular motion. Add a tired or frustrated facial expression to emphasize that the search took a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this sign to say 'You look beautiful'?

No, this specific sign means 'looking for' or 'searching.' To say someone 'looks' a certain way regarding their appearance, you would use the sign for 'face' or 'appearance,' which uses a completely different handshape and movement.

Do I use one hand or two hands for this sign?

This version of 'looking' is typically signed with just your dominant hand. You form the 'C' shape and make the circular motion near your dominant eye. There is a two-handed variation for 'search', but the one-handed version is very common.

How do I show that I've been looking for a long time?

In ASL, you can modify a sign's meaning by changing its movement and your facial expression. To show you've been looking for a long time, make the circular motion larger and slower, and show exhaustion on your face.

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