Signs for GOOD

Meaning: To be desired or approved of; very satisfactory, enjoyable, pleasant, or interesting.

Handshape: either "5-close" or "5-bent" is fine.

Printable ASL Printable ASL for GOOD
Usage/Grammar

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Written ASL

[Note: ASL writing is not an official standard. This sign language writing remains in a state of open space to allow room for experiment, evolution, and improvement.]

ASL written for GOOD

ASL written for "THANK-YOU" by Todd Hicks, 2017.

Deaf Culture and tidbits

Cross-cultural anecdote: a nice hat!

January 2008: A feisty, American young Deaf man, who worked as a ASL language instructor for a year in Tokyo, Japan, told me an incident in Japan where I stayed there for a few months. Here is his story in January 2008.

good gesture
"F-GOOD" gesture

One day, he saw a Japanese elderly woman who wore a fine, beautiful cartwheel or floppy hat. He genuinely wanted to compliment her, so he warmly approached her and gestured -- pointed to her hat and gestured F-GOOD (see the image above). The frail elder at first looked confused. Again, he pointed to her hat and gestured F-good! The lady looked aghast and rushed away. The American guy stood there, scratching his head. To that story, he still didn't figure it out but I burst out laughing with tears.

I explained to him that this F-handshape gesture is apparently associated with money in Japan and I could imagine how the old lady interpreted the guy's gestures, "Wow, look how expensive this hat must be". This old, traditionally conservative lady must be feeling intimidated by the high-spirited young American man talking about money. Hearing this explanation, the American guy suddenly looked illuminated. He then sincerely felt so bad so bad for her (and for himself, ha).

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