You may wonder why there can be different lexical variants for a word that carries the same meaning.

In fact, people often have multiple ways of expressing or referring to the same thing. An individual's choice of vocabulary is influenced by factors such as their living environment, social circles, and personal experiences. As a result, there is not always a single "correct" or "incorrect" way to express a concept.

Take Cantonese as an example. Some people refer to their father as baa4 baa1 (爸爸), while others say de1 di4 (爹哋) or lou5 dau6 (老豆). These different terms can coexist, and none of them is inherently right or wrong. The same applies to sign language. People from different backgrounds may be accustomed to using different signs. For example, there are several commonly used variants of the sign for “Tuen Mun”. What matters most is that the intended meaning is clearly understood by others.

Know a word but not its sign? Simply enter the keyword to find the corresponding entry.

Interested in learning more signs? Explore different categories to discover a wider range of HKSL vocabulary.

Seen a sign and recognized its handshape, but not its meaning?

Search by Handshape to find the sign and learn what it means.

The Hong Kong Sign Language Browser contains a large collection of lexical variants. But how is all of this information gathered and organized?

Each year, our research team dedicates significant time and effort to collecting, documenting, and organizing sign lexical variants from a wide range of sources.

We interview Deaf individuals from different backgrounds. Because they come from different age groups, educational backgrounds, and life experiences, they may use different signs for the same concept. We collect and document these sign variants to provide a fuller picture of how Hong Kong Sign Language is used in the community.

After the interviews, we produce sign language demonstration videos and invite Deaf organizations to provide feedback. For example, they may comment on how commonly a particular sign is used or whether its meaning is widely understood.

The research team then reviews, organizes, and analyzes all collected data. Once the information has been carefully checked, the vocabulary entries and their sign variants are uploaded to the Hong Kong Sign Language Browser, allowing users to explore and learn about the real-life use of Hong Kong Sign Language.