Kaomoji: Japanese Emoticons
Kaomoji (顔文字) are a distinctive style of Japanese emoticons created using Japanese characters and punctuation marks to express emotions in text and online communication. The term "kaomoji" combines two Kanji words: kao (顔 – "face") and moji (文字 – "character"). These emoticons are a creative way to convey feelings, blending art with text.
In Japan, kaomoji have gained immense popularity, reflecting the nation's deep emotional and artistic sensibilities. Unlike Western emoticons, which emphasize the mouth, kaomoji focus on the eyes, considered by many in Japan as the "windows to the soul." Their straightforward, upright presentation also eliminates the need to tilt your head to interpret them, making them uniquely engaging.
The origins of kaomoji trace back to the early days of the internet and instant messaging. The absence of face-to-face communication often led to misunderstandings in tone and intent. Fans of manga and anime, familiar with the expressive power of simple lines, began using kaomoji to bridge this gap, adding clarity and creativity to their text-based interactions.
Kaomoji are incredibly versatile. While some sources estimate there are around 10,000, the actual number is far greater due to two key reasons:
- Rich Character Sets: Japanese writing relies on double-byte character sets, offering a broader range of symbols compared to single-byte alphabets like Latin or Cyrillic.
- Diverse Expressions: Kaomoji can depict not just emotions but also actions, objects, and even intricate scenarios.
Japanese emoticons are categorized by their emotional tone, action, or thematic element. Special characters are often included to enhance their meaning. For example:
- Happiness: (^▽^)
- Sadness: (╥﹏╥)
- Actions: ┬─┬ノ( º _ ºノ) (flipping a table back into place)
Anime and manga have greatly influenced the evolution of kaomoji. These art forms excel at conveying complex emotions with minimal lines, inspiring users to create emoticons that are both functional and artistic.
This site offers a curated collection of kawaii (cute) Japanese emoticons sourced from Japanese internet culture. While it’s impossible to catalog them all, we’ve selected some of the most charming and expressive ones and even added our own creations. An Android application is also available for users who want easy access to this delightful form of expression.
Explore, experiment, and express yourself with kaomoji! Mix and match elements to craft your own unique emoticons and add a touch of Japanese creativity to your messages.
Joy
To craft cheerful, joyful, or laughing Japanese emoticons, you can use high-positioned eyes. Characters like ^,  ̄, ´, and ``` are great options for this. The mouth plays a significant role as well. Many Japanese girls prefer using the character ω (omega) as the mouth in their emoticons, finding it adorable—or as they call it, kawaii. Other smile-like characters, such as ∀ or ▽, can also add charm to your creations.
Additionally, Japanese kaomoji often include decorative effects to enhance their expressions. Elements like stars, joyful tears, and other symbols can bring out the emotions more vividly, making your kaomoji even more expressive and unique.
Love
Japanese love and kissing emoticons often feature the ♡ (heart) symbol or creative combinations of it, such as ノ~ ♡, to represent an air kiss. Another popular element is the word "chu", which in Japan mimics the sound of a kiss.
Love-themed kaomoji frequently include characters like * or o to depict rosy cheeks, conveying shyness or affection. These are often paired with symbols like /, \, ノ, ノ, or ヽ, which give the impression of bashfully hiding one’s face in embarrassment.
For a more romantic touch, the character ε (bow-shaped lips) is used to show a desire for hugs and kisses, adding an extra layer of warmth and emotion to your kaomoji.
Embarrassment
To create kaomoji that express embarrassment, you can use the ; character to represent a drop of sweat on the face, a classic symbol of nervousness. For blushing, characters like * or o are excellent choices, as they evoke rosy cheeks.
You can also enhance the feeling of shyness by making your kaomoji appear to cover its face with hands. This can be done by incorporating symbols like ノ, ヽ, /, or \, creating the impression of a bashful or flustered expression. Experiment with these elements to make your embarrassed kaomoji even more expressive!
Sympathy
Sympathy kaomoji often involve two characters to convey the emotional exchange: one expressing sadness or distress, and the other offering comfort or support. For the first character, you can use kaomoji from the sadness category to represent someone upset.
The comforting kaomoji typically includes a "calming hand" gesture, such as ノ", ノ', or ヾ, symbolizing reassurance. Another common feature is a "supportive shoulder", showing the act of being there for someone in need. Combining these elements creates a heartwarming scene that expresses care and compassion effectively.
Dissatisfaction
Dissatisfaction can be conveyed effectively through kaomoji by creating expressions that mimic facial wrinkling. Characters like **><** are often used to depict displeasure or annoyance, giving the kaomoji a distinct look of frustration.
To enhance the effect, you can add "wrinkles" using the **#** character for added emphasis. Eyes such as **¬ ¬** or **¯ ¯** can also contribute to an air of dissatisfaction, especially when paired with a carefully chosen mouth shape. These techniques are widely recognized in anime and manga, bringing familiar and relatable expressions to life in text form.
Anger
The key to creating angry or evil kaomoji lies in the eyes. Characters like ` and ´ or ` and ´ are perfect for conveying fury, but be sure not to reverse their order, as this will change the tone completely (compare: ` ´ - angry eyes, ´ ` - friendly eyes).
To emphasize anger further, you can include "wrinkles" such as #, or stronger versions like メ or ╬. For added intensity, consider using symbols like 凸 (a middle finger) or ψ (claws) as arms. To complete the expression, mouths such as 皿 or 益 can create a snarl-like effect, making your angry kaomoji even more expressive.
Sadness
Sad or crying kaomoji are simple to create by focusing on the eyes. Characters like Т Т, ; ;, and > < work well to depict tears or sorrow. For a more dramatic effect, you can add / \ or ノ ヽ to show the face being hidden, adding to the feeling of sadness.
These expressive elements help convey emotions of grief, loneliness, or distress, allowing your kaomoji to tell a story of sadness in just a few characters.
Pain
To represent pain in kaomoji, combine characters like > < with special effects such as ⌒☆ to add intensity and emotion. For a more striking expression of shock or pain, eyes shaped like "x" can convey a sense of being stunned or overwhelmed.
There are various other ways to depict pain, each unique to the style and context of the kaomoji. Experiment with different elements to create a more personalized and expressive symbol of discomfort or agony.
Fear
To express fear or fright in kaomoji, use forward and backward slashes along with similar characters to create the impression that the character is hiding its face in fear. These symbols can represent the trembling or hesitation often associated with being scared.
You can also depict a fearful reaction by adding elements like a scream, or by having the character wave their arms in panic. These visual cues enhance the feeling of dread and anxiety, making your kaomoji's emotions more vivid and dynamic.
Indifference
To create indifferent or "whatever" kaomoji, use special characters for arms like ┐ ┌ or ╮ ╭, often combined with forward and backward slashes or similar symbols to convey a casual, nonchalant posture. These elements express a laid-back or uninterested attitude.
For the eyes, you can use characters like ー ー or ˇ ˇ, which give off a distant, detached vibe, emphasizing the lack of concern or emotion. These simple but effective symbols help create a kaomoji that perfectly represents indifference.
Confusion
To convey confusion in kaomoji, you can use "blank eyes" like ・ ・ to give a sense of uncertainty or disorientation. Adding symbols like ; or 〃 can enhance this effect, making the expression more intense.
Eyes such as  ̄  ̄ also work well to portray a puzzled or lost feeling. To further emphasize confusion, you can add effects like thinking (・・・), raising hands (┐ ┌ or ╮ ╭) to show uncertainty, or propping the head with an arm ( ゞ) to suggest deep contemplation or bewilderment.
Doubt
To express doubt in kaomoji, use eyes like ¬ ¬ or ¬ ¬, which create the impression of skepticism or disbelief. Adding arrows can also enhance the feeling, as if the character is carefully observing something or questioning its truth.
These symbols combine to give a sense of suspicion, as though the kaomoji is reacting to something that doesn’t quite add up, making them perfect for conveying doubt or uncertainty in a subtle yet effective way.
Surprise
To create surprised or shocked kaomoji, use a wide-open mouth like o, 〇, or ロ to show a strong reaction. Pair these with surprised eyes like O O or ⊙ ⊙ to emphasize the astonishment. Raised hands can also be added to reflect the character's shock or disbelief.
For an extra dramatic touch, include symbols like Σ (representing a sharp jerk of surprise) or a character like ; to suggest confusion. Additionally, combining big eyes with a small mouth creates a contrasting effect, enhancing the sense of surprise or shock in your kaomoji.
Greeting
To create greeting or farewell kaomoji, you can use forward and backward slashes as a standard, but there are more unique options to explore, like ノ or ノ. These characters add a friendly, welcoming touch to your kaomoji.
If you want your kaomoji to wave hello or goodbye, try incorporating symbols like ヾ, ノ゙, or various combinations with the "tilde" (~). These effects enhance the feeling of waving, making your greeting more dynamic and lively.
Hugging
To create hugging kaomoji, use characters that represent outstretched arms, such as ヽ(°◇° )ノ or (っ◕‿◕)っ. These symbols convey the warmth and affection of a hug, giving the kaomoji a welcoming, comforting vibe.
By combining these outstretched arm characters with other expressions, you can craft a variety of hugging kaomoji, each adding a different touch of care or love.
Winking
Winking kaomoji are playful and easy to create. Simply use different characters for each eye, such as (^_~) for a wink or (≧ω≦) for a more energetic wink. These variations give the kaomoji a charming, cheeky personality.
By adjusting the eyes or adding extra effects like a tilted head or a blush, you can enhance the playful, flirty nature of the wink, making your kaomoji even more expressive.
Apologizing
In Japan, apologizing often involves a gesture of bowing, and this is reflected in kaomoji as well. To create an apologetic kaomoji, use lowered eyes like (_ _) or (. .) to show humility and remorse. If the apology is expressed from a sitting position, you can use m m for the eyes to represent a more respectful, seated bow.
For a more formal bow, incorporate characters like < > to represent the shoulders, emphasizing the act of bending forward in apology. These elements combine to create a deeply respectful and heartfelt apologetic kaomoji.
Nosebleeding
To create kaomoji depicting nosebleeds, commonly seen in anime and manga, you can use characters like i, ハ, ;, and 〃. These characters suggest a dramatic reaction, often associated with an intense or embarrassed moment.
By combining these symbols with flushed cheeks or wide eyes, you can create a more vivid and expressive nosebleed kaomoji, capturing the typical exaggerated response from anime characters.
Hiding
To create hiding kaomoji, use the character "|" to suggest that the emoticon is peeking out from behind a wall or object, trying to stay hidden. This gives the impression that the kaomoji is cautiously watching or avoiding detection.
You can further enhance this effect by combining it with other symbols, like (︶︿︶) or (・_・) to express curiosity, embarrassment, or hesitation while hiding.
Writing
To create writing kaomoji, use the character φ to represent a pen, giving the impression of someone actively writing. You can also incorporate underscores or dots (like "..." or "_ _") to further illustrate the writing process, creating a sense of movement or thought.
By combining these elements with other expressions, such as (・ω・) or (´・ω・`), you can craft more detailed writing kaomoji that convey focus or concentration while writing.
Running
To create running kaomoji, use motion characters like ε, =, ミ, and C to convey speed and movement. These symbols suggest that the emoticon is in action, dashing forward with energy.
Sleeping
To create sleeping kaomoji, use zzZ to represent snoring, capturing the essence of deep sleep. You can enhance the effect by adding a pillow, like [ ], to create the image of a resting emoticon peacefully sleeping.
Pairing this with relaxed facial expressions, such as (--) or (××), adds a further touch of calm, making your sleeping kaomoji feel even more serene and content.
Cat
In Japanese culture, cats are considered incredibly cute, which is why they often appear in anime and manga as adorable characters. To create a cat-inspired kaomoji, use = = for the mustache and ^ ^ for the ears to give your emoticon a feline touch. This instantly transforms your kaomoji into a charming little kitty, full of playful energy.
You can further enhance the cuteness by adding a tail using characters like ~ or combining it with expressions like (* ^ω^). This will make your cat kaomoji even more lovable and full of personality.
Bear
Japanese bear kaomoji are easily recognized by their distinctive snout, represented by (エ), or their characteristic ears, such as ʕ ʔ. These features help capture the essence of a cute, cuddly bear.
To make your bear kaomoji even more charming, you can add expressions like (。•́‿•̀。) or combine it with a playful gesture like ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ to bring your bear to life with added emotion and personality.
Dog
Dog kaomoji are easily recognizable by their ears, often represented as ∪ ∪, which give them a playful and energetic look. These characters help transform a simple emoticon into an adorable pup.
To enhance the dog-like features, you can also use a wagging tail symbol, such as ~, and combine it with a joyful expression like (・ω・) or (ᵔᴥᵔ) to bring your dog kaomoji to life with even more charm and character.
Rabbit
Rabbits are widely adored for their cuteness, and creating rabbit-themed kaomoji adds to their charm. You can represent a rabbit's face using the character "x" and its long, floppy ears with slashes like /\.
You can also try combining other features like fluffy cheeks or little paws to give your rabbit kaomoji an extra layer of cuteness and personality.
Pig
You can create a pig smiley by using (oo), (OO), or (ω) for the snout!
Add it to your kaomoji, and you'll have an adorable little piggy face.
Bird
For bird kaomoji, you can use characters like Θ or θ to represent the beak!
Add these to your cute bird face, and you'll have a delightful little birdie smile.
Fish
Fish and sea creatures hold a special place in Japanese culture, making them popular in kaomoji!
To create a fish smiley, use << or 彡 for the tail, and )) for the gills, and you'll have a charming little fish.
Spider
For spider kaomoji, you can use characters like /\╱\╮╭╲ to create the legs!
Don't forget to add a few pairs of eyes to complete the spooky yet cute look of your little spider.
Friends
To express friendship in kaomoji, try having your characters hold hands!
You can use 人, メ, 八, and 爻 to represent the connection, or explore other characters to create your own unique bond between friends.
Enemies
In a playful way, you can create an "enemy" kaomoji by showing your character kicking or striking their opponent!
Use special effects like ☆, ミ, 彡, and Σ for emphasis, and don't forget to add x x for the eyes of the defeated opponent. Get creative with your approach for a fun battle!
Weapons
For weapon-themed kaomoji, you can get creative with various symbols!
For a rifle, try ︻デ═一, a sniper rifle can be ︻┻┳══━一, and a shotgun is ︻┳═一.
For a minigun, use ✴==≡눈, a gun is ¬, and a laser can be ・・・--------☆.
Magic
Japanese emoticons can capture the wonder and excitement of magic in all its forms!
From casting spells to magical sparks, kaomojis bring these enchanting moments to life.
Use symbols like ٩(◕‿◕。)۶ for a magical gesture! Explore different combinations to conjure your own magical kaomojis.
Food
Japanese culture has a deep love for food, and kaomojis perfectly express this!
Use characters like 旦, 口, 且, and even [] to represent food and drinks in your kaomojis.
For hot beverages like tea or coffee, simply add ~~ (steam) to show the warmth! You can also create a variety of eating kaomojis to depict different meals or snacks, adding your own unique twist to the expressions.
Music
Japanese emoticons capture the rhythm of life, from singing and dancing to simply enjoying music!
To show musical joy, add the ♪ symbol to your kaomoji, or modify its hand position to make it appear like it's dancing.
Let your creativity flow with these fun expressions, whether it's a toe-tapping tune or a full-on dance party!
Games
Japanese kaomojis can capture the excitement of games and sports in a fun and expressive way!
From tennis to ping pong, volleyball, basketball, and even boxing, there's a kaomoji for every activity.
You can also express your love for hobbies like fishing, bowling, or playing video games using creative symbols.
Explore and discover the kaomojis that match your favorite games!
Faces
These kaomojis feature human-like faces, full of personality and charm!
With various expressions, you can capture a wide range of emotions, from joy to surprise.
Experiment with different combinations of characters to create unique, expressive faces that convey your mood perfectly.
Special
No particular category of kaomoji smiles has been included here. All of them has personal special description.