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A ๐ (broken heart) emoji might seem pretty straightforward, but do you know all the different ways to use it in texts and social media? Weโre here to show you! Below, weโve put together a complete guide to the ๐ emoji, including its possible meanings, how to respond to it, and emojis that can be paired with it. Keep reading if youโre ready to learn all about the ๐ emoji and how to incorporate it into your texting vocabulary going forward.
Things You Should Know
- The ๐ (broken heart) emoji represents a broken heart, especially after a breakup or romantic rejection.
- The emoji can also symbolize missing someone you love and feeling sad or hurt about anything (beyond just romantic rejection).
- Use the ๐ emoji when you need to vent about heartache (especially after a breakup) or tell someone you miss them a great deal.
Steps
What does the ๐ emoji mean?
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1The ๐ emoji symbolizes heartache after rejection. When someone feels rejected by a person they lovedโwhether theyโre dealing with a bad breakup after years of dating or realizing that their crush is unrequitedโ they may feel totally brokenhearted by what happened. Including a ๐ emoji in a text or social media message encapsulates that feeling of heartache. [1] X Research source
- โI canโt believe she left me ๐โ
- โItโs over between me and Mike. I donโt even know what to say. ๐โ
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2The ๐ emoji represents missing someone. In some cases, people use the ๐ emoji to capture the heartache of being without someone important. A couple spending a few weeks apart due to work might send this emoji to one another, for example, to express their desire to be together.
- โMissing you so much today. ๐๐ฅบ Call me later?โ
- โItโs only been a week, and I miss you more than I thought possible. ๐โ
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3The ๐ emoji also conveys an overall feeling of sadness. While heartbreak is the main reason someone feeling sad might use the ๐ emoji, it can also express any sorrow, no matter the source. Whenever a person is feeling hurt, sad, helpless, or despairing, the ๐ emoji can express those emotions. [2] X Research source
- โI lost my grandma a few years ago today. ๐ It still hurts.โ
- โI donโt know how to help my friend, and itโs awful. ๐๐ Sheโs just so unhappy all the time.โ
Using the ๐ Emoji
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1Share your feelings post-breakup or rejection with the ๐ emoji. When your heart is feeling bruised or broken because of a bad breakup, itโs only natural to confide in someone you trust. Use the ๐ emoji to show them how the breakup made you feel. Plus, if youโre not sure what to say or how to verbalize your feelings , the emoji does a lot of the work for you. [3] X Research source
- โCan we talk? Chris and I broke up, and Iโm really feeling it. ๐โ
- โOne day the pain of this breakup will pass, but for now, I just feel heartbroken ๐โ
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2Use the ๐ emoji to tell a loved one you miss them. Itโs never a bad idea to tell someone you love that you miss themโit speaks volumes about how much you care. When you really miss a loved one, especially a significant other, send the ๐ emoji to express the heartache of being without them (and tell them how much you want to see them again soon).
- โMissing you even more than usual today. ๐๐ Hope youโre having a good trip!โ
- โHow is it possible to miss someone this much? ๐ I canโt wait to hold you again!โ
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3Emphasize how upset or sad youโre feeling with the ๐ emoji. Whether you had a particularly bad day at work, youโre upset over arguing with a friend, or youโre struggling with the loss of a loved one, use the ๐ emoji to convey the pain you feel inside. No matter why youโre sad, the ๐ emoji can help express those feelings.
- โI lost my dog today. ๐ I miss him so much it hurts.โ
- โI had to talk to some really mean customers at work. They just made me feel so useless. ๐โ
Responding to the ๐ Emoji
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1Console a friend or loved one after heartbreak or rejection. When someone you know is dealing with the pain of heartbreak, sending them a kind word can go a long way. You may not be able to fix their problem, but knowing someone is there for them may help them deal with their sadness. Empathize with them, and reassure them that everything will be okay in the end.
- โIโm so sorry to hear about the breakup. Want to talk about it some more? ๐ซถโ
- โOh no! If thereโs anything you need, Iโm here for you. Sending lots of love, my friend. โค๏ธโ
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2Let your loved one know you miss them, too. If your partner starts sending you sweet messages about how much they miss you, show them that you feel the same. Send a sweet โI miss youโ message and tell them that youโre counting down the days until you can see them again. If you both have time, a quick phone call or video call might also make you feel better!
- โI miss you too! Only 6 more days until weโre together again, darling. ๐โ
- โI miss you so much it drives me crazy! Iโm free for a call later if you are ๐ฅฐโค๏ธโ
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3Sympathize with someone feeling sad and ask if you can help at all. When someone messages you to vent about their feelings, no matter why theyโre feeling sad, listen to their troubles and show them some sympathy and compassion in return. Your kindness can absolutely have a positive impact and help them feel at least a little better.
- โThat sounds really tough. I hope you feel a little better soonโand, in the meantime, Iโm here for you. ๐โ
- โIโm sorry you have to deal with all that. Can I help at all? Even if you just need someone to text you a few funny memes, Iโm there. ๐ซถโ
๐ Emoji vs. โค๏ธโ๐ฉน Emoji
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A โค๏ธโ๐ฉน (mending heart) conveys healing after having a broken heart. Using the ๐ emoji typically signifies feeling heartbroken, and the โค๏ธโ๐ฉน emoji is a natural follow-up to that. Together, the emojis show a natural process of recovery. Many people use the โค๏ธโ๐ฉน emoji when they feel like their hearts are finally healing from whatever heartbreak or sadness they experienced in the past. [4] X Research source For example:
- In the wake of a bad breakup, a friend might text you something like, โIโm so heartbroken over Jenny ๐๐๐โ
- Then, if you check in a few weeks after the breakup, they might text something like, โIt took a while, but Iโm finally starting to feel okay about the breakup. โค๏ธโ๐ฉน๐โ
Pairing ๐ with Other Emojis
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Combine the ๐ emoji with related emojis that symbolize sadness. There are plenty of other emojis in the ever-growing library that convey sadness, heartbreak, pain, and more. When you use the ๐ emoji, try pairing it with another emoji to put extra emphasis on how youโre feeling. For example:
- Use the ๐ and ๐ฅบ (pleading face) emojis to emphasize that youโre feeling emotional about a recent heartbreak.
- Use ๐ and ๐ (pensive face) to tell someone youโre feeling down or depressed about something.
- The ๐ and ๐ข (crying face) signify crying due to heartache, so use them to show someone youโre currently shedding a tear.
- The ๐ and ๐ญ (loudly crying face) convey a lot of emotional painโuse them when youโre feeling especially upset.