In Japan, you start number one by folding your thumb into your open hand. Left hand . Germany: right Poland: right Serbia: right Spain: right, except by … Hand side by country. Wedding ring fingers and hands across the world . Otherwise, you’re giving the equivalent of the middle finger. In Germany and Brazil it is a very obscene gesture, in Japan it means money and in France it usually means zero or useless.In Arab countries this is also an … The order starts with the thumb, followed by the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky; each placed on top of the thumb. However, in Japan, it’s the bent fingers that determine the amount. One thumb bent into the palm while others are straight indicates “one”. ... Singapore, and Japan. This symbol's original meaning was a-OK and NASA was one of the first to use it to describe that everything has gone to plan. When counting on your fingers, Japanese people start with the fingers and thumb extended upward and then bend them down one by one with each sequential number. #4 The ring finger is called, kusuriyubi (薬指), the “medicine finger”. Three fingers to the palm indicates “three” and so on. "Unfortunately, in Iran and neighboring countries like Afghanistan, the thumbs-up is equivalent to the middle finger!" 3. Actually, a funny story about this: One of my friends who went to Japan went to a high school while in Japan, and the principal showed her pictures of his students (at activities and random photos), and in many of the ones he showed her, students were smiling and sticking their middle fingers up for the camera. #2 The index finger is hitosashiyubi (人差し指), the “pointing finger”. What to look for. Below is the list of countries for which I know the hand; all countries so far use the "usual" ring finger (the fourth finger - counting from the thumb). #3 The middle finger has the same meaning as in English, and is called nakayubi (中指). The index finger comes next, then the middle finger, and so on until you’ve got a fist. That is, if you live in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. or Australia. 8/12. What it really means: In Pakistan, a closed fist is the equivalent of an American giving the middle finger. In Japan, fingers’ names are called the following: #1 The thumb is oyayubi (親指), the “parent finger”. Yes, the middle finger turned sideways means the same exact thing as the traditional finger in the air. The gesture is made by crossing your middle finger over your pointer. Jeanne Sager. explains Dana Hooshmand, an author for Discover Discomfort , … If you really, really want to wish someone good luck, you might tell them you'll cross all of your fingers and your toes, too. From 6, you start unfolding your fingers starting with the pinky. Loser. Middle Finger. Avoid Using In: United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. This gesture has evolved to mean perfect, but in some countries it has completely different meanings:. Thumbs-Up . Sometimes teens do this because it's less obtrusive -- essentially they're hoping not to get caught flipping someone the bird. That’s because in Japan, giving the thumbs-down is very similar to giving the middle finger in the U.S. – it means something like “go to hell.” Very odd considering they use the thumbs-up sign no problem, but hey, it’s hardly the first time Japan has confused the crap out of us . “Two” is shown by resting the index finger over the thumb while keeping the remaining three straight.