![[For Adults] Fun Hand-Clapping Games: A Curated Selection of Ideas Great for Brain Training Too!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/JAAZeu-P5Gg/maxresdefault.webp)
Hand games you can play using only your hands, without any props.
In preschools and kindergartens, you often see children happily enjoying hand games while singing.
In this article, we’ve gathered ideas for hand games that even adults can get excited about.
We’ll introduce a wide range: from ones you can enjoy like party games at banquets or gatherings with friends, to activities that help with cognitive training for seniors.
Hand games may look simple, but they can be surprisingly tricky and not so straightforward! Let’s give them a try right away.
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[For Adults] Crowd-Pleasing Hand Games | A Curated Selection of Brain-Training Ideas! (1–10)
Beef Tongue Game
A game that tests your memory and sense of rhythm: the “Gyū-tan Game.” Participants form a circle and put their palms together.
Decide the order and start the game.
Sing “gyū, tan, gyū, tan, gyū, tan, tan,” clapping on each “tan.” The words go around the circle in order—Player 1 says “gyū,” Player 2 says “tan,” Player 3 says “gyū,” and so on.
The number of “tan” at the end increases each time you repeat the song, so be sure to remember how many “tan”s come next.
It’s simple, but it’s also a great brain-training game!
C.C. Lemon
This hand game known as “CC Lemon” actually goes by many names depending on the region and the people playing it.
The basic pattern is to clap twice to the rhythm of “C, C, Lemon,” and on the third beat, interlock your hands to form a “C.” In some variations, you thrust your hands forward to attack, or cross them in front of your chest as a barrier, making it fun to customize.
Because it requires memory of the moves and quick reactions, it’s great for brain training.
People of all ages, from seniors to young folks, can join in, so it’s perfect for party entertainment or recreational activities.
Bamboo Shoot Gnocchi
“Takenoko Gnocchi” is a classic game often played as a bus recreation activity.
It’s fun even for adults and can get pretty heated, so give it a try.
When the chant “Takenoko, takenoko, nyokkikki!” starts the game, players press their palms together, thrust them above their heads, and call out a number followed by “nyokki,” like “One nyokki.” After someone says one, the next person says two, then three, and so on, increasing the number by one each time.
If two people speak at the same time, they’re out, and anyone who doesn’t manage to say a number by the end also loses.
Finger tutting
Let me introduce “finger tutting,” a dance that expresses beats and rhythms through movements of the fingers and hands.
The appeal is that you don’t need any props—you can do it with just your hands.
Paired with trendy music, it feels current; with nostalgic tunes, it creates a sense of unity across generations.
It also helps train concentration and finger flexibility, so you can expect brain-training benefits.
Though simple, it has real depth, making it a pastime that adults can get hooked on, and it’s growing popular for parties and recreational events.
By changing the tempo or synchronizing movements with a partner, you can broaden the ways to play.
playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s move (i.e., acting with hindsight/cheating)
In regular rock-paper-scissors, playing after your opponent is against the rules, but in this game you deliberately play after them.
Form pairs of two.
One person first says “Win,” “Lose,” or “Make it a tie,” then throws rock, scissors, or paper.
The other person should play their hand so the result matches the instruction.
If you follow the instruction, you succeed; if you don’t, you fail.
Since we’re used to playing rock-paper-scissors with the goal of winning, many people will reflexively try to win.
It’s tricky—but that’s exactly what makes this game fun.
tea caddy
Would you like to try playing the hand-clapping song “Chatsubo,” a traditional favorite? It’s a simple game where you pretend your hands are a tea jar, but it’s trickier than it looks.
First, clench one hand tightly to make the tea jar.
In time with the song, use your other hand to open up and become the lid or the base.
The tea jar switches from the right hand to the left hand in turn, so make the lid and the base with the hand opposite the jar.
Try to keep the rhythm and play without making mistakes.
It’s great brain training, too!
Hand play song ‘Tankō Bushi’
A simple finger game played to the rhythm of ‘Tankō-bushi’ where you place only your index fingers and pinkies on the table and move them.
Move the fingers on the left and right hands alternately, and during the ‘yoi yoi’ part, firmly bend and straighten both pinkies to add emphasis to the movement.
Focusing on the fingertips helps strengthen the coordination between the brain and the hands, and boosts concentration.
Another nice point is that it requires no tools and anyone can do it easily.
It’s recommended both for rehabilitation for older adults and as a fun bonding activity for parents and children.