Korean Hand Gestures

[changoleon2020]

I like these videos more...not so much of BEING CUTE....aghhh....i like it.

[sugarpop3]

martina was always funky! in a good way :)

[kaylajo1375]

LOL! I already have a habit of calling people over the Korean way, I didn't know at first and watching this I was surprised!

[CrazyCarrie6655]

lol I have that exact purple korean book

[MahouButterfly]

1:54 I´ve got exactly the same book! ♥

[chkoe96]

I never see korean girls supporting their elbow, it's always the 2 hand thing. I'm in Canada and even I accept things with 2 hands

[heechul14]

is it just me or does Martina smile a lot more no.?

[KikaSaysRawrr]

aw martina :)

[animegoddess98]

if they aren't teaching anymore, what are they doing? o.O

[AbePwns]

@animegoddess98 Well, since they are partners with Youtube, they get money by making videos. Thanks to advertisements.

[iHeartshushix3]

@animegoddess98 blogging. And stuff :3

[Joeeagh]

okay one. is it me or does Martina look really thin?

and two. I CAN NEVER UNSEE THIS TEACHER IMAGE OF THEM. In their new vids i could never imagine them as teachers. but with this- totally can ^o^

[4Ventus]

Martina looks very European here. I know she's Canadian :P I like this look better. But I think she would stand out more if she looked like this in Korea.

[j74yang]

Maybe you should have mentioned the difference between "Ban-Son and Doo Son" and "respect towards the elders". That's something Koreans consider as one of their most beautiful culture, but at the same time, I am afraid to tell you that Koreans are getting too westernized and losing the touch with that culture. It was really wonderul to see someone like yourselves not only trying to understand it, but also trying to share with others. Good on you!.

[ironman7387]

this video just pissed off my Korean roomate lol

[shye0715]

I'm pure Korean, and I can't agree with this.

[ohgeezidontknow]

@shye0715

why not? I'm just curious bc im trying to learn stuff....

[flowerwht]

omg ..just...so polite some how i am happy i live in britain O.O

[DisneyStarsTube]

she looks so pretty like this...she should go back to this hair

[GOYANGIOMMA]

i guess korean food is really yummy, 'cause martina gained some weight, hihihi~



[chanseong]

아이고

[AnimeRuleGirl24]

omg i own teh same korean phrasebook! LONELY PLANET! XD

[koreanpop143]

simonandmartina, do you guys know if you might make another new video of this, with more gestures like these? i want to live in Korea someday, and these were really interesting~

[RainbowishKatz]

It feels so weird watching this in 2012 before they became even more amazing.

[efronlover35]

Thanks

[JayDee808]

this video seems so...directed or should i say...robotish lol

I'm glad they are now free and themselves lol

[hngtng1]

Excellent observation of Korean custom!! Good job!

Merry Christmas!

Dec 25 , 2011

[weaslebee]

very informative thanks

[musiclover0394]

you also usually see these in korean dramas and movies!! ^^

[bonbon1260]

yeah i think it is because if you do it upwards, it looks like your calling a dog or an animal, i think thats what i heard. And the giving thing, in my culture, if you receive or give a thing to an adult, you do it with two hands to show respect. I got told off by my dad by not giving it to him properly lol:).

[Donavan29ty]

I learnt something new today. :)

[CheeryChibi]

1:19 I have that book~ :D

Gosh thank you for this, I'd read about that gestures are different but wasn't sure how o__o"

[arashifanatic]

i always hated the north american way of waving someone over. i feel offended and that was before i got into asian culture. i've even had customers give me the little finger, like i'm a little kid in trouble -_-

[realcaffee]

This is totally correct.

[realcaffee]

I am pure korean. I am sure that this video is totally correct. Normal koreans usually do like this. But... this is not required to your friends or your siblings.

[silvepaper222]

You really dont have to give the money with two hands when you buy something.

[sampacs]

@silvepaper222 correct.in busy market place it doesn't matter.

[Daro12081988]

aaaahhhhhh i have the book you are holding at the minute 1 : 19 amazing!!!! i love you earrings by the way

[TonHyukOTP]

You know, with all the Korean pop culture I infuse into my brain, a lot of the stuff from these videos like the hand gestures I've begun to realize i already knew on some level. Some of them i have even begun doing without noticing it! Still, I learn a lot from these videos, so that you for making them!

[shadykate83]

thank you so much for making this video!!! i'm an american who works in an outlet mall with TONS of korean shoppers - this is really helpful!

[Andie0330]

the downward hand gesture is also in the Philippines! At first I had no idea whether or not they were telling me to leave or go to them haha

[SingingHylianAngel]

Question! Can you have your hand sideways when your calling someone over? With the side of your hand down, or does it have to be your palm?

[jikwonw90]

lol? i never do that in korean (i'm fully korean...)

[Prophetess7]

@jikwonw90

Are you saying this video is wrong? If so, what part? I have some friend who will be visiting Korea in a few months, and I would like to get the correct information.

[jikwonw90]

@Prophetess7 some what right but, calling taxi or calling someone with that hand gesture might be an old style. Korea is changing really quick, like lots of things. It is good to be polite and yes you need to be polite and respect other people in general. I suggest you to go to korea and meet other koreans and just interact with them and learn

[Prophetess7]

@jikwonw90

Thank you that was helpful.

[DevilsTrueLies]

i <3 these old vids xD

[IluvHKong]

also have to turn your face to drink

[iloveboneslots]

aw this was so long ago! Still loooove it!

[vanderwoodsen90]

im watching this 2011 and im lol-ing and martina's toned down hair style. she's so funky now and i love it! :D

[SirJorky]

This is weird, I feel like I'm watching a "Before they were famous" special...

[CearyAuryn]

interesting

[xcrashin2mexox]

OMG ! I HAVE THAT BOOK !! d(^_^o)

[CharmedPotato]

@cheeehtoke lol martha.. Her name's Martina :)

[Cindyacism]

Haha, I have that book too! xD

[flashatizer]

This editing job is embarrassing for you guys! ;) lol

[UKnowYunhoLover]

@flashatizer i was thinking the same, comparing their newest videos to this loooooooooool

[jandi411]

OMG! I have that same Korean book at 1:20 XD

[saltalahuerta]

should people from Korea be offended when the "hand calling gesture" is not applied here in the US? my boss gets mad when customers call her like that, she gets offended and doesnt like the customer, but the customers are not rude at all, one of them can't speak at all that's why he uses his hands.

[Helgonet1234]

Im going to Seoul in October for business, this will be helpful!

[Improv16]

i see Simon in the tv screen

[shiknara]

i c.... kudos!

[melonbarmonster]

aww... martina you look so north american here.

[designpete]

I'v really enjoyed your video thanks.

[paraparasuki]

woooooooooooooooooooooooooooow :O .... how thing changes when you are abroad. So many things to learn o.o

[wanderingalice13]

1:20 I was wondering what happened to my Korean phrasebook lol

[tonykim1999]

I love you guys thank you so much for doing this please make more videos

[AZaikoku]

the hand thing makes me think of taekwondo graduation.. :3

[zakirin1989]

simon in the television hehe :D

[MizMimiCullen]

well i think the most polite thing you can do it not spill something everywhere so the glass/pouring thing is a win. :P

[darkmagicianawsome]

In Korean dramas whenever someone is pouring tea they put one hand over their stomach (like one might clutch it). Is this a polite thing also?

[MultiMonoChromatic]

@darkmagicianawsome I dont know if i'd consider it polite, I think its natural reaction? (I put my hand over my stomach, i dont know why or what its for....) and im certain the recieving and giving hand guesture shown in this video is almost outdated. It's only used in situations where you have to show utmost respect. :)

[saerilee]

@darkmagicianawsome I think for some people it's so that their shirts/ties don't fall into the food and stuff on the table...or at least that's why my dad does it in formal occasions xD

[323TESOL]

I sure don't want to disrespect students by pointing at them.. nonono

[raxaa2345]

Oh, i have just known that hand gestures do really affect :O Thanks it's important to know about this one.

감사합니다! ^^

[way2good4this]

LOL This video and the T-money? card video were played in our Korean Culture Class in TORONTO!!!!! 

[KiNaNoRaMyLe]

Thank youuuu xD This is going to be sooo useful x.x

[dfozter126]

You have to be so polite in Korea and Its a lot of work too!! Ugh Im a very polite person and i only have to speak politely. Like saying please and thank you and have "a nice day" and "how are you?" and thats it! Ugh so much workkkk good thing im not in Korea :)

[Bouratha256]

Thanks

[laurenkiki]

now that i know all of these hand gestures im soooo tempted to just be completely rude and use "im srry ive never been here before" as an excuse xDDD

[16supercute]

the first hand gesture u taught us is the way filipino people call each other to come =)

[luv2singkpop]

You said it is rude to do that with your hand but TOP does it in knock out (bbeokigayo) at around 1:11 i swear XD

[GahoJheebum]

@luv2singkpop haha yeah I know ! But I think the whole video was choregraphed by an american so it can explain this... or maybe, since the song speaks about how cool TOP & GD are, maybe the gesture was meant to be a little arrogant. I don't know for sure but anyways, 1:11 = totally hot ! :P

[ArturoStojanoff]

How to handle your hands when giving and receiving *wink*

[7LovinDaLife]

that's what I don't like about Korea. I'm Korean but lived in Australia for 10 years. Every time we had to bow when we see someone and be polite.

[sty1einc]

REVERSE ANGLE!!

[Ijustatewhat19]

You never pour your own glass, someone else always pours for you, and everyone drinks at the same time.

[CCTVXQ]

lol 1:20 i have the same korean dictionary thingy!!! i bought it at the airport!! :D

[Whiteguyforpalestine]

This video is actually how Westerners should interact with most of the outside world. For courtesy, the supporting of the hand when passing money/shaking hands/or pouring drinks is widely used as well as the palm down to signal or call someone over. Kenya, South Africa, India, Viet Nam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand, Korea at least from what i know or have seen personally.

[IrmCik]

i can see simon from the TV LOL XD

[raphaelger]

thanks for the video =)

[isixteenzeronines]

just an additioal, that's actually Asians.. I'm Javanese, part of Indonesia (just in case you guys doesn't know).. we also do those hand gestures to older people.

and if you drink soju in front f older people, you should avoid facing the older people, perhaps you better drink with you body facing your sides.. :)

[anthcybo]

How is touching your elbow more polite when handing people money? That makes no sense to me.

[MisterAngryPenguin2]

@anthcybo

your supporting your arm in carrying the object you're giving and recieving.you actually care about the transaction instead of being lazy only using 1 hand. I mean imagine you recieve a gift and they just stick it out with one hand and wait for you to grab instead of handing it to you, it sort reminds you of how a bratty kid would hand smthin. Basically you want both hands doing something if you only use half your body its 1/2 as poilte, your not giving them full attention

[quailchow]

Always give things with two hands. That's what my Korean professor taught me

[AshleyTatton]

Congrats on choosing this as your career, I'm re watching your older videos to give you ad sense on them. Likes, comments and views, hopefully that's how it works.

[BybeeBunnie]

I don't know why though out the whole video I kept thinking "Siwon (of Super Junior) the Gestures Man" hahhaha. Thanks for the video, it really helped :)

[5anime5lover5]

@BybeeBunnie LOL same here..XD

[Cescq13]

Korean people must be really weak if they need both arms/hands to do everything.

[AliceMariaxD]

@Cescq13 Why weak if you mean EVERYTHING? xD

[BIGBANGCRAZY111]

@Cescq13 It's suppose to be like respect you ignorant idiot.

[ThePlatineist]

@Cescq13 Sarcasm, much? What's weak is your mind.

[ClareGeenen]

how about greetings and shaking hands!

[melonbk]

you guys are learning well :D

[fatimahaliful]

i ave started to do these from the korean films and dramas that i watched ..but when i do it in front of my friends i kind of feel weird because they don't know about it

[kireilekach]

@fatimahaliful Hah! I know the feeling! The' OK' symbol they make with their hands is so addicting, and yet people look at you strange when you do it in public :)

[fatimahaliful]

@kireilekach my youtube is messed up i don't know why it writes the same message over and over again

[fatimahaliful]

i ave started to do these from the korean films and dramas that i watched ..but when i do it in front of my friends i kind of feel weird because they don't know about it .

[SoshiLoveable]

or sing snsd's mr taxi hahahaha

[xxximsokewlxxx]

i read hand gestures and immediately thought "choi siwon" :P

[samireh123]

@xxximsokewlxxx LOLOLOL SAME!haahahahahahah

[WinterAlyssAbyss]

In Japan, it is the same thing~ I'm so glad to have that in my heritage, otherwise I think I'd be considered rude to Koreans. ㅠ

[EunJeongJaneLee]

eeeeey~ i'm watching whole your works and i'm a fan~!!

it's so funny even for korean LOL

BTW people dont have to put another hand under the elbow :D !

too polite in the store~ in some situation w/ edler person than it's right!!

but anyway ~ you guys are such an amazing !!! love it!!

[EunJeongJaneLee]

eeeeey~ i'm watching whole your works and i'm a fan~!!

it's so funny even for korean LOL

BTW people dont have to put another hand under the elbow :D !

too polite in the store~ in some situation w/ edler person than it's right!!

but anyway ~ you guys are such an amazing !!! love it!!

[MASTERNCS]

very Korean PC!!!! you guys are well on your way to being 100% Korean. Great JOB paying attention to the details. The people who know, KNOW.

[ithoughtso67]

this kinda applies to most east asian countries.

[blingblingshineshine]

Actually in general these things are so much more polite...Not just in Korea.It's just that Korea still observes these things with respect and importance,that we feel very rude to do usual gestures.

[jaymanxxxx]

ty this helped me out with gf parents, ty ty

[re5569na]

is that the proust collection in the back? niceeee

[MEdance4ever]

i am dating a korean and i am trying to get his parents approvle so i am trying to learn a lot before i eat with them Thank you ALOT!

[WolfmoonMs]

@MEdance4ever Lucky

[ChemicalSorrow]

I have so much to learn. Thank you so much!

[chimichangasx3]

LOOOL. I HAVE THE SAME KOREAN HANDBOOK.

[ahkim94]

ohhh.. so that was why that taxi ajussi completely ignored me last summer when i went to korea. hahah i'm a failure of a korean.. too americanized :P

[yomolandia]

using both of ur hands gives the impression that you are fully attending to ur current action; one hand, half attentive.

[SuperBlazingstar]

this is extremely helpful for students that are going for exchange programme! simon and martina, can u do more videos on korea's do and don't . thank you!

[alkoreah]

LOVE THE HAMESTER LINE IIII HAHAHAHHA

[cindyluvmango]

whoaa korean culture is so respectful :o

[ghkvl3737]

you do know that ur fingers dont have to be all cramed together..

[Natsumi999]

The funny part is, i call ppl over the korean way naturally hahahah. my friends tell me im so asian XD (no offense to anyone i hope)

[XxSSjUltimatexX]

Dear god...

I'm Chinese Canadian and I must say that the Chinese customs are so much simpler...

Literally, you do anything involving someone senior to you, double hands and nod your head a bit down.

[13SuperJake]

I'd just pawn them at starcraft and they'd worship me xD

[juns1992]

@13SuperJake That is actually true lolz

[Shinigami987]

@13SuperJake You're talking about korean ppl. they pawn YOU!

[StringsCrusader]

@13SuperJake what the fuck is pawn? like the piece from chess? i believe you mean pwn.

[Jakathera]

Something I learned in Korean class (when I was young, might have changed) is that in Seoul if the number of fingers you raise to hail a taxi is the number multiplied by the going rate that you're willing to pay. So for example, if you hail a taxi with an open hand, it tells the taxi that you're willing to pay 5x the going rate to get where you're going. Most likely the taxi drivers thought you were crazy and drove right by you. :_D

[xxmilkixx]

Oh geez, Thank god I watched this, or I'd be making grudges with everyone. D:

Oh, and the part for when someone pours a -liquid- into your cup, you either tap the table (or next to the cup; common) on either your fingertips (index and middle) or on the second knuckle. Depends, if it's from a friend, you do the tips. Elderly, the knuckle (but you should ALWAYS pour for the elders. D:). That's how the Chinese does it. :D

[time0space0witch]

-wants to be a diplomat for asia-

....-is taking notes and will train self to do all these things-

[godafet]

That thing where you touch your arm when giving or receiving, they find that very polite because back in the day if you were serving royalty anything you would have to push back the sleeve of your robe, so to do the symbolic gesture is like treating everyone like royalty! Sweet!

[xXdarkxninjaXx]

OMG no wonder my grandpa thought i had no manners!

why didnt i hold the cup with two hands why?

[MrsSuJuLove]

omg your hair is so long!

[MsJewelxo]

What happens if we go to Korea, with no knowledge about these hand gestures? Will koreans still 'understand' us, knowing we're foreigners?

[zEricFaux]

@MsJewelxo dont be stupid

[acting303]

@MsJewelxo lol they understand of course their not going to be like "gasp, that foreigner!" they recognize that foreigners have their own customs

[aaaiissyyaahh]

I have that book! lol.

[xSUNGMIINx]

arent you supposed to drink to the side? D:

[okwalala]

thanks i saw this on movies and didn't understood so well :)

[Msjjangful]

i came from the philippines and when i came to the u.s. that finger thing they do annoyed me. its like calling to a dog. i guess philippines and korea got some similarities on that one

[xobubblegirl90xo]

i have that book at 1:19 lol i got it in NYC at borders

[nachtnite]

Yes. this part is cool. absolutely.

Basically Korean polite hand gesture is using two hands for respecting other person at a moment, especially toward elder person. ;-)

One hand using means, "I'm currently annoying whatever..."

And the calling gesture that upside fingers is when use calling or stroking toward a dog 's jaw that is rude in Korea ;-|

[mynameiskirstydoogan]

I can't tell you how many times I've accepted something like a receipt or my change with both hands and I'm English

[ilovesshadow]

@mynameiskirstydoogan i know right!!!!!its weird i am gonna start practicing these steps now!!!

[letsshoutletsdance]

in korea, if you are eating something and your friend is next to you, just ask them if they want to try some.and if they say they are good, ask them again.

and when you borrowed stuffs from your friend, say thank you once again when you return them. and never ever throw them!

also, when you shake hands with older people, dont just shake hand, bow a little bit at the same time. you dont have to bow in a big motion like when you bow to the audiences in concerts ;)

[xWhaaa]

learned something new today :D

[profmiss]

Wonderful! Many of these I have seen in kdramas. I would only recommend that you might add the polite way of drinking- turning their head to the side as if not wanting to be seen actually taking a drink. Thanks

[KpopBrandy]

Thank you for this.

[ChurtleSnap]

Good video! O: It was fun to watch and mostly true.

I'm Korea and I'm warning those people who are reading comments about people who say they're Korean with little notes and facts about being Korean, that what they say can be true and sometimes what they say can be exaggerated and can vary from different Koreans.

Don't hate.