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I have seen in some anime where the character become nervous, [sweats
profusely](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/8856/why-is-sakurai-
sensei-always-sweating-like-a-sprinkler/8863) and makes this action. For ex -
Tadokoro Megumin from _Food Wars_ :

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BUeWm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BUeWm.png)

I have also seen Minoru Mineta from BNHA doing that. What does this action
signify? Is there any cultural significance to it?


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tropes
What does "crossing one's palm with fingers and gulping" signify?


This action that Megumi is doing signifies anxiety and stress. It is a nervous
habit, as explained in the show and manga. From the
[wiki](https://shokugekinosoma.fandom.com/wiki/Megumi_Tadokoro):

> She has a habit of tracing the kanji for "person" (人) on her hand then
> motioning, as if to eat it, whenever she is stressed.

I'm not familiar with the culture of Japan on this matter, but according to
this [article](http://folklore.usc.edu/?p=9517) on the University of Southern
California's site, it is part of the culture. Here's a quote:

> In Japan, students nervous for a presentation are often told to draw the
> Chinese character for “person,” 「人」three times on their hand. They are then
> supposed to pretend to eat those “people” by putting their hand in front of
> their mouth, in the belief that this will ease their anxiety.

Furthermore, according to the same article, the rationale is:

> The idea was that those three 「人」characters represented the audience in the
> palm of her hand, and eating them made them seem irrelevant, undeserving of
> her anxiety

I'm not familiar with Minoru Mineta doing this, but if it's really the same
action, then everything still applies. And I'm fairly certain I've seen
similar things done in other manga and anime, but I'm drawing a blank right
now. I'll update if I remember any.


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