How to sign “care”

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the sign most often used for “care” in the sense of “take care of” or “look after” uses both hands in a K handshape. Stack the dominant hand on top of the non-dominant hand and move them together in a small circle in front of your body.

This guide covers ASL, the main sign language used in the United States. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, use different signs, and regional and personal variations exist within ASL. No dictionary entry or video reference was supplied for this article, so check the description against a reputable ASL dictionary or a fluent Deaf signer.

Which meaning of “care” do you need?

English uses “care” for several ideas that ASL signs differently. Choose a sign based on what you mean, not on the English word.

• Take care of, look after, care for someone: the stacked K-hands sign described below.
• Be careful: a related sign with the same K handshapes, but the dominant hand taps the non-dominant hand instead of circling with it.
• I don’t care: a separate sign, usually made by touching the nose with the index finger and then flicking the hand away. It is not a variation of “take care of.”
• Caring as an emotion, as in “I care about you”: this is often expressed in other ways depending on context. A fluent signer is the best guide here, because a literal word-for-word choice can sound unnatural.

How to form the K handshape

A handshape is the position of the fingers and thumb while you sign. For the K handshape, hold your index and middle fingers up, slightly apart. Place the tip of your thumb against the inside of the middle finger, near its base. Curl the ring and little fingers down into the palm.

Some signers use a V handshape for this sign: the same two fingers up, but with the thumb holding down the ring and little fingers. Both forms appear in everyday use.

Step by step: “take care of”

• 1. Form a K handshape with both hands.
• 2. Hold the non-dominant hand in front of your chest, with the fingers pointing forward and the palm facing sideways.
• 3. Rest the dominant hand on top of it in the same orientation, so the edge of the dominant hand sits on the other hand.
• 4. Keeping the hands in contact, move both hands together in a small circle or two, parallel to the floor.
• 5. Use a calm, attentive facial expression. In ASL, facial expression is part of the meaning, not decoration.

How to check that you are signing it correctly

Practice in front of a mirror and compare your hands with a dictionary video. Check four things: the handshape (K or V on both hands), the placement (in front of the chest), the orientation (hands stacked, fingers pointing forward), and the movement (small circles with the hands together). If any of these four elements differs, the sign can read as a different word, such as “be careful.”

A mirror or reference video can confirm that you have copied the shape. It cannot confirm that the sign is natural in a full sentence or right for your region and context. For that, get feedback from a fluent signer, ideally a Deaf ASL teacher.