How to spell ZHANG in sign language
Zhang fingerspelled in ASL is 5 handshapes, signed one after another with the palm facing out. Hold each for a beat and keep the hand in one place; the letters carry the word, not the movement.
Z
H
A
N
GLetter by letter
- Z Index finger extended straight out from a fist, drawing a Z path in the air.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.
Motion letter. Z cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in ZHANG is a static handshape.
Fingerspelling is how ASL handles names, places, brands and words without a sign of their own. Many everyday words do have a sign, so if you are learning ASL as a language, learn that sign too; this page shows how the word is spelled with the manual alphabet.