gawi

Gawi is the Korean term for scissors, written 가위 in Hangul. In everyday use, the word refers to the cutting implement used for trimming and cutting. In addition to its literal meaning, gawi is best known internationally as one of the three hand signs in the game commonly called rock-paper-scissors.

In Korea, the game is traditionally spoken as 가위 바위 보 (gawi, bawi, bo). The three gestures correspond to scissors (gawi), rock (bawi, 바위), and paper (bo, 보). The standard rule is that scissors cut paper, paper covers rock, and rock crushes scissors. The game is widely used to make quick decisions, settle disputes, or determine order in a playful way, often among children and in social settings.

The gesture for gawi is formed by extending the index and middle fingers on one hand while keeping the other fingers closed, resembling blades. The term 가위 is native Korean, and the transliteration gawi is used in English-language descriptions to refer to this sign and its role in the game. The concept of casual decision games similar to rock-paper-scissors exists in many cultures, with local names and gestures, but gawi-bawi-bo remains a staple in Korean-speaking contexts.