Emoji Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
😊
emoji
[ɪˈmoʊdʒi ]
Definition
digital communication
An emoji is a small digital image or icon used to express an idea, emotion, or concept in electronic communication. They originated in Japan and have become a universal form of expression in online conversations. Emojis can represent facial expressions, objects, animals, and a variety of symbols. Their use can add tone and nuance to text, helping to convey feelings that may not be easily expressed with words alone.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- I sent a heart emoji to show my love.
- He used a laughing emoji to indicate he found it funny.
- She included a thumbs-up emoji in her reply to agree.
- The birthday message was brightened with cake and party emojis.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Communication
- Emojis help convey tone and intent in written messages, reducing misunderstandings in digital communication.
- Research shows that using emojis can enhance emotional expression and make conversations feel warmer and more personal.
Pop Culture
- In 2015, the Oxford Dictionary chose the 'Face with Tears of Joy' emoji as its word of the year.
- Emojis have their own 'World Emoji Day' celebrated on July 17, highlighting their importance in communication.
Technology
- There are thousands of emojis available today, covering a wide range of objects, symbols, and emotions.
- The Unicode Consortium is the organization responsible for standardizing emojis across different platforms.
Psychology
- Studies indicate that emojis can evoke emotional responses in users, affecting how people perceive messages.
- Using emojis can also influence our memory retention of information, making messages more memorable.
Origin of 'emoji'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from Japanese, where 'e' means 'picture' and 'moji' means 'character'.
- Originally created in 1999, emojis were designed by Shigetaka Kurita for a Japanese mobile platform.
The word 'emoji' is derived from the Japanese terms 'e' (çµµ), meaning 'picture,' and 'moji' (æ–‡å—), meaning 'character.' Emojis were first created in the late 1990s by Shigetaka Kurita, an employee at NTT DoCoMo, a Japanese mobile communications company. Kurita designed the original set of 176 emojis for use on NTT DoCoMo's mobile platform. This was during a time when text communication was becoming more popular, and there was a need for a way to convey emotions and ideas visually. Kurita drew inspiration from manga, street signs, and Japanese culture to create these simple, yet expressive, symbols. As smartphones became prevalent in the 2010s, the use of emojis expanded globally, leading to standardized sets that could be used across different devices and platforms, such as Unicode, which adopted emojis to ensure consistent representation. Today, emojis are an integral part of digital communication, enriching text-based conversations and allowing users to express a wide range of emotions and ideas visually.