How to Say Thank You in Malaysian Sign Language

The short answer

In Malaysian Sign Language, known as Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia or BIM, "thank you" (terima kasih) is commonly described as a flat, open hand whose fingertips start at or near the chin or lips and then move forward and slightly down toward the person you are thanking. It is usually signed with a gentle smile or a small nod, which carries the warmth of the message.

Treat this description as a starting point, not a definitive reference. No verified source material was available for this guide to confirm the exact handshape, hand orientation, number of hands or movement. Check it against a recognized BIM dictionary or video, or better, a Deaf BIM signer or instructor, before relying on it.

Ambiguities that change the answer

• Malaysian Sign Language is not signed Malay. BIM is the natural language of the Malaysian Deaf community, with its own grammar. Kod Tangan Bahasa Malaysia (KTBM) is a manually coded form of Malay used in some educational settings. A sign learned from a KTBM source may not match everyday BIM use.
• BIM is not American or British Sign Language. BIM is generally understood to have been influenced by American Sign Language, so its thank-you sign may resemble the ASL version. Resemblance is not identity, and you should not assume that other ASL signs carry over unchanged.
• Local variation exists. Some Malaysian communities have used older regional sign varieties, and individual signers may produce a sign slightly differently. If someone you are talking with signs thank you differently, follow their lead.

How to sign it, step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand. Hold it flat with the fingers together and the thumb relaxed against the side of the hand.
• 2. Bring the fingertips to the chin or just below the lips, with the palm facing you or slightly upward.
• 3. Move the hand forward and slightly down in a smooth arc toward the person you are thanking, so the palm ends up facing upward.
• 4. Make eye contact with the person and keep a friendly expression, such as a smile or a slight nod, while you sign.
• 5. Sign it once at a natural pace. You do not need to exaggerate the movement.

How to know you got it right

Reading a written description cannot confirm that your sign is correct. Small differences in where the hand starts, which way the palm faces or how the hand moves can change a sign's meaning or make it unclear. Use one or more of these checks:

• Compare your movement side by side with a video from a recognized BIM learning resource, ideally one produced with Deaf community involvement.
• Ask a Deaf BIM user or a qualified BIM instructor to watch you sign it and correct you.
• Notice how the people you are signing with respond. If they look puzzled or sign it back differently, adopt their version.

What this guide does not cover

This guide covers a single greeting-level sign. It does not confirm regional or generational variants, formal versus casual forms, or how the sign changes in longer BIM sentences. Learning a few signs is a courteous gesture. For meaningful communication, or in medical, legal or workplace settings, arrange a qualified BIM interpreter instead of relying on individual signs.