What is An Emoji and What Does It Mean?
Emoji are an iconic part of modern communication, used to express emotion or illustrate a point. They have become so ubiquitous that they have transcended their original purpose, used as stand-alone symbols to convey a large range of thoughts and feelings. But just what is an emoji, and how can you figure out what each one means?
What Are Emojis?
An emoji is a small digital image or icon used to express emotion or an idea. These icons and images are used in text messages, emails, and social media posts and are typically meant to convey a certain emotion, sentiment, or concept. Emojis first originated in Japan when they were part of the Japanese language, and many Japanese mobile companies created their own designs of the various emoticons.
Emojis were first made available in western technology in 2011, as part of Apple’s iPhone 4 operating system, and have become an increasingly popular way to convey emotion in conversations. Emojis can be used to provide context and express sentiment in an otherwise plain text message or post.
How to Use Emojis
Emojis are used in text messages, online chat, and social media posts. In addition to being used for simple communication, emojis can be used to make a statement, emphasize a point, and even tell stories.
When using emojis, it’s important to remember that different people may interpret the same emoji differently, so it’s best to stay away from any emoji that may be politically charged or that may send the wrong message.
It’s also suggested to limit the use of emojis since recipients can perceive that as unprofessional. Emojis are best used when they are used sparingly and in context.
A Guide to the Different Types of Emojis
Emojis are categorized in several ways, each type conveying a different sentiment. Here are the different types of emojis and the emotion they are meant to express:
Face Emojis:
These emojis convey emotions such as happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, and more. Common examples include the smiling face, the unamused face, the crying face, and the angry face.
Hand Emojis:
These emojis are used to express different kinds of actions such as waving, pointing, and more. Common examples include the thumbs up and the OK sign.
Animal Emojis:
These emojis are often used to represent a certain animal and are meant to symbolize an emotion or to add a bit of humor to a conversation. Common examples include the monkey, the dog, and the cat.
Food and Drink Emojis:
These emojis are often used to express something related to food or drink, as well as to represent an emotion or sentiment. Common examples include the pizza, the taco, and the donut.
Other Emojis:
There are also many other types of emojis, ranging from objects and elements of nature to symbols and flags.
How to Find the Meaning of Certain Emojis
When you see a certain emoji, it can be difficult to know what it means. There are several websites and online dictionaries that explain in detail what certain emojis mean. Here are a few helpful sites for finding out a certain emoji’s meaning:
• Emojipedia: This site is a comprehensive collection of information about all types of emoji.
• Emojicool: This site is an easy-to-use tool for finding out what certain emojis mean.
• Twitter Guide: Twitter has compiled its own list of emoji meanings for its platform.
• Slack Guide: This guide from Slack explains the meaning of many different emojis.
Emojis are a fun and easy way to express emotion and add a bit of personality to conversations. They can be used to add context and sentiment to an otherwise plain text message or post. With the help of online dictionaries, it’s easy to find out the meaning of most emojis.
