I know, it was popularised by Churchill during WW2, but since we were talking about it as the "peace sign" rather than the "victory sign" I didn't mention it. I would say the majority of Japanese people don't realise it was originally V for victory, since most wouldn't know the word victory in any case. Most Japanese people will tell you it means ピース.

Argh, you beat me to it ;)

thank you for answer ;) so it is peace, that is very nice :vsign: just noticed there is even smily for that

yes there are some other countries where it is used to express other gestures, even rude, also i think it was used as revolutionary symbol during ending of last century here, and students in our country use this to get noticed by teacher during the running class so teacher knows when they need assistance. but at that case they will hold a hand over they head, not aside the torso ;)

My assumption was that it meant peace, but also as mentioned i have seen people use it in a victory sense too. But it's funny how a simple turn of the hand and the meaning switches so quickly.

In the UK the other way around simply means 'F*** Off' as i expect it does everywhere else. Pretty much the opposite of peace.
Although in my experience the middle finger at someone is used more commonly as a rude gesture.


It's funny because it's so common in Japanese photos yet if someone of another race did the :vsign: in their holiday photos they would probably look silly. Yet the Japanese don't. Maybe it's just because i'm used to seeing them do it? But i'd look like an idiot if i did the same thing...haha

That is my understanding of it too.

It's not just the Japanese that do the 'V' sign either. My fiancee is Malaysian and for some reason, her and her friends can't help flicking the 'V' every time a picture is taken. :eek:

Actually that way of giving someone the fingers (palm in V sign) is apparently limited to the UK, Ireland, NZ, Australia and South Africa. It's not used that way in the US or Canada- they only use the 1 finger version.

In most countries it's just another way of saying "two"- I was pretty surprised when I first came to Japan and was working in a restaurant, and Japanese customers would order two of something by giving me the fingers! I got used to it after a while though :vsign:

This is very typical in Asia. Taiwan, HK, China, Korea.... years ago (sorry don't have links or quote or anything to this). My understanding of this is also "victory", and it was heavily "promoted" by Jackie Chan in the early 80s, as Mr Chan love to pose with this V sign during any kind of press or promotional event of his new movies.

I've heard both victory (which does make sense considering what the gesture looks like) and peace.

And also "Screw you" or something to that effect, but let's assume that's not it in this case, hm? :D Also I think that in that particular sense the hand is facing the other way.

It's because it's a very british thing relating to the use of longbows. I'm not sure why it never survived in the states because it's old enough to pre-date the Mayflower by at least aprox. 200-250 years. Perhaps the puritans just weren't that into it.

The two fingered "salute" with the plam inward/knuckles to the recipient is rather unique tot he UK, but seems well understood in Italy and France. Even many Americans get the general idea when the see it.

This is just my guess, but along with various cultural gestures turning up in the U.S. there is just a general perception that if someone raises the hand to you with the knuckles facing you its some sort of insult. The only differences between the number of upright fingers or even a fist, seem to be the specifics of the insult.

As for the V with the palm facing out, I have also heard various explanations - the most common being a take off on either the Peace sign from the '60s or the V for victory. Generally I just regard it as a sign that everything's good either way.