1.
gesture; body language; physical movement to convey meaning
Movements of the body, especially the hands and arms, used to express or emphasize something. Often paired with 手振り in the set phrase 身振り手振り.
Very commonly used in the compound phrase 身振り手振り, which emphasizes the use of the whole body and hands together to communicate.
Common collocations
- 身振り手振り (gestures and hand movements)
- 身振りで伝える (to communicate through gestures)
- 身振りを交える (to use gestures along with speech)
- 大きな身振り (exaggerated gestures)
Usage
While 身振り can be used alone, the paired form 身振り手振り is far more common in everyday speech. The compound ジェスチャー is also used, especially in casual contexts.