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. John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.
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Did you know that the sweet, caring 🫶 (heart hands) emoji actually has a few different meanings? It can represent love and affection, but it may also mean something else based on the context of the message someone sends you. We're here to break down what it means, how to use it with friends and loved ones, and how to respond to it when you see it in a text or social media message.
Things You Should Know
- The 🫶 emoji stands for love, affection, kindness, appreciation, joy, support, and positivity.
- Use the 🫶 emoji to tell someone you love them or send support and encouragement.
- Alternatively, use the 🫶 emoji to express thanks to someone you care about or talk about something you really enjoy.
Steps
What does the 🫶 (heart hands) emoji mean?
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1The 🫶 emoji represents love and affection. When someone sends you the 🫶 (heart hands) emoji, it may signify how much they love you. This emoji can be exchanged between friends, family members, or romantic partners—it applies to all kinds of love and closeness. It’s a way to say, “I care for you a lot, and I want you to know just how much!” [1] X Research source
- “Hey you! This is your daily reminder that I love you 🫶”
- “I miss you! 🫶 Just wanted you to know that I’m thinking of you.”
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2The 🫶 emoji can convey support and positivity. When you’re having a bad day or feeling nervous about something, a caring loved one might send you the 🫶 emoji along with a supportive message. The 🫶 emoji is a symbol of comfort, encouragement, and kindness! [2] X Research source
- “I’m sorry you had a rough day! I’m here for you 🫶”
- “Anything I can do to help? All you need to do is ask! 🫶”
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3The 🫶 emoji symbolizes appreciation and thanks. Someone feeling grateful or appreciative might send you the 🫶 emoji as a way to express themselves. The 🫶 emoji can mean, “Thank you!” or “I appreciate you and everything you do for me.” It’s often specifically used by loved ones to send appreciation to one another. [3] X Research source
- “Thank you so much for your help yesterday. You’re a lifesaver! 🫶”
- “I don’t know what I’d do without you!! 🫶”
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4The 🫶 emoji indicates something that brings joy or pleasure. The 🫶 isn’t always used to express love to someone —some people use it to express their love for something. A friend might send you the 🫶 emoji when they’re talking about something they’re a big fan of (or something that makes them feel super excited).
- “OMG, I just listened to the new Adele album, and I’m in love! 🫶”
- “My gf got me this adorable pair of earrings! I love them so much! 🫶”
How to Use the 🫶 (Heart Hands) Emoji
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1Tell someone how much you love them with the 🫶 emoji. It’s always nice to remind someone that you care about them—and your loved one will likely appreciate the gesture too! Send a friend, partner, or family member the 🫶 to say, “I love you so much!” [4] X Research source
- “Sending you love today! 🫶”
- “Wanna know a secret? …I 🫶 you!”
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2Encourage someone you care about with the 🫶 emoji. Want to comfort someone or let them know that you believe in them? The 🫶 emoji is an expression of support, so send it to a person who needs a little pick-me-up—whether it’s a friend, family member, or partner.
- “Hey, you got this! 🫶 You’re gonna do amazing at work today!”
- “Good luck today! You’re the most talented person I know. 🫶”
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3Thank someone using the 🫶 emoji. When somebody you care about does something nice for you, send the 🫶 emoji to show your appreciation. Whether you’re thankful for their support, a favor they did for you, or you’re just grateful to have them in your life, the 🫶 can encapsulate those feelings.
- “Thank you for encouraging me yesterday 🫶 I really needed it!”
- “I’m so grateful to have a friend like you! 🫶”
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4Gush about something you really like with the 🫶 emoji. Want to tell a friend about your new favorite shirt or a show you just watched and absolutely loved? The 🫶 can be used to express love for whatever cool thing is making you really happy at the moment.
- “Just got a new sweater, and it’s the coziest thing!! I’m so happy with it 🫶”
- “The newest Star Wars movie is my favorite so far! 🫶 Wanna watch it with me?”
How to Respond to the 🫶 (Heart Hands) Emoji
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1Express your feelings in return when someone sends their love. If someone uses the 🫶 emoji to tell you that they love you and you feel the same, tell them so! You could even send the 🫶 emoji in return, or another kind of heart emoji to convey your feelings.
- “I love you too!! ❤️”
- “Aw, you’re the sweetest! Love you so much. 💕”
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2Convey your gratitude for their support. When someone sends kind words of encouragement along with the 🫶 emoji, the easiest way to respond is often with a simple “Thank you.” Let them know that you appreciate their support—and, if they were comforting you, that their words made you feel a little better.
- “Thank you for being someone I can always count on! 🫶”
- “It’s so nice to know you’re rooting for me!! 😊”
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3Say “You’re welcome” after being thanked for something. After getting an enthusiastic “Thank you” from a loved one, let them know you were happy to help! It can feel really nice to help out someone you care about—and a simple “You’re very welcome” can go a long way toward strengthening your relationship even more.
- “You’re so welcome! I’m glad I could help. ❤️”
- “It was my pleasure! Let me know if there’s anything else I can do. 😊”
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4Ask for details when someone tells you about their favorite things. The next time a friend or loved one uses the 🫶 emoji to tell you about something they really love, continue the conversation by showing interest in what they've told you. If you have an opinion on the subject, share that too—maybe the two of you will discover a new interest that you have in common!
- Them: “Just discovered Ted Lasso , and I love it! 🫶 Have you seen it?”
- You: “Yeah! So glad you like it—who’s your favorite character?? 😊”
Similar Emojis
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The 🫶 is often associated with other heart emojis. Although the 🫶 emoji depicts two hands rather than an actual heart symbol, the two hands are forming a heart shape—which was a popular gesture of affection long before it became an emoji. [5] X Research source Therefore, the 🫶 emoji can be used interchangeably with the different hearts in your emoji library, including:
- ❤️ (red heart emoji)
- 💕 ( two hearts emoji )
- ❣️ ( heart exclamation emoji )
- 💖 ( sparkling heart emoji )
- 💝 (heart with ribbon emoji)
- 💟 (heart decoration emoji)
- 💑 (couple with heart emoji)
- 💞 (revolving hearts emoji)