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.
身振りで伝えた。
I communicated through gestures.
身振り手振りを交えて説明した。
I explained using gestures and hand movements.
言葉が通じなかったので、身振り手振りで道を教えてもらった。
Since we didn't share a language, they gave me directions using gestures.
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 NOTE:
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.