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This article was co-authored by Imad Jbara
and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman
. Imad Jbara is a Dating Coach for NYC Wingwoman LLC, a relationship coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Imad services 100+ clients, men and women, to improve their dating lives through authentic communication skills. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
There are 35 references
cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 99,347 times.
Ever scrolled through your emoji keyboard and seen the chunk of Chinese emojis toward the end? Believe it or not, these emojis are actually Japanese kanji
, or letters originating from the Chinese character system. If you don’t live in Japan or speak Japanese, you may not be using these emojis very much—but it’s still handy to know what they represent. We’ve created a comprehensive guide that goes over each one, so you can flex your newfound emoji knowledge in your future conversations.
Note:
Japanese kanji have multiple pronunciations—the “kun-yomi,” or Japanese pronunciation, as well as the “on-yomi,” or Chinese pronunciation. We’ll be including both in the steps below, when applicable. [1]
X
Research source
Steps
-
🉑️ means “acceptable” or “permitable. ” This emoji can literally represent the word “yes” in a response to a question, but it’s also used as a symbol for acceptance or deciding to accept a circumstance or situation. [2] X Research source It’s a good way to emphasize inspirational or motivational messages.
- “Heading out in 5. You ready to go?” “🉑️”
- “The sky’s the limit! You decide where you want to go in life. 🉑️”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - ka and 🇨🇳 - ke.
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🈶️ means “not free” or “unable to afford. ” At a surface level, this emoji literally means “not free of charge.” It originates from the Japanese word “有料” (yūryō), which means “fee-charging,” “paid,” “not free.” [3] X Research source Some people use this emoji for emphasis in conversations about materialism and ownership, while other people use it to literally mean “can’t afford.” [4] X Research source
- “Feels like money is all that matters to the world anymore 🈶”
- “I really don’t think you can afford to be late to work again! 🈶”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - yū and 🇨🇳 - you.
-
🈚️ means “free” or “nothing. ” In Japanese, the kanji “無” literally means “nothing” or “none.” [5] X Research source Some people use 🈚️ to represent that they don’t have something, while others use it to signify a freebie somewhere. [6] X Research source
- “Do we have any sugar?” “🈚️, you’ll have to run to the grocery store and pick some up.”
- “My dentist’s office is giving out 🈚️ toothbrushes today!”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - mu and 🇨🇳 - wu.
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🈸️ means “application,” “request,” or “monkey. ” The “申” kanji in this emoji is shorthand for “申請” (shinsei), which translates to “application,” “petition,” or “request” in Japanese. [7] X Research source However, the “申” kanji can also mean “monkey” on its own, since this kanji represents the monkey within the Chinese zodiac. [8] X Research source
- “I was born in the year of the 🈸️”
- “I found your Twitter, but your account is locked. I sent you a 🈸️.”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - saru and 🇨🇳 - shen.
-
🈺️ means “open for business. ” The “営” kanji in this emoji stems from the Japanese word “営業” (eigyou), which means “business,” “operations,” or “trade.” You can also see this kanji “営業時間” (eigyou jihan), the Japanese phrase for “business hours” or “opening hours.” [9] X Research source People tend to use this emoji when talking about a newly-opened business. [10] X Research source
- “Did you see that new thrift shop that just opened? 🈺”
- “Can’t wait to check out the new restaurant down the street! 🈺”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - ei and 🇨🇳 - yin.
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🈷️ means “monthly amount” or “month. ” The kanji “月” literally translates to the word “month,” but can also mean “moon” in some circumstances. [11] X Research source In the land of emojis, people use 🈷️ to talk about their bills, or about something specific happening during the month. [12] X Research source
- “I love payday, but I hate that half of my check goes to car payments 🈷️”
- “My boyfriend’s birthday is next 🈷️, and I was thinking about throwing him a surprise party.”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - tsuki and 🇨🇳 - yue.
-
White flower means “a job well done,” “love,” “beauty,” and “happiness.” Japanese teachers often use this flower motif when grading superb assignments, and some people use the emoji as a type of praise or celebration. [13] X Research source You can also use this flower more aesthetically in their messages, or to reference something floral.
- “Happy Valentine’s Day babe! 💮”
- “Check out these daisy-printed shoes I just got! 💮”
- In some versions of this emoji, you can see some Japanese writing in the middle of this flower if you really squint. The message is “大変よくできました” (taihen yoku dekimashita), which means “you did a great job.”
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🉐️ means “bargain” or “gain. ” The kanji “得” actually means “advantage,” “gain,” or “benefit.” [14] X Research source Some people use this emoji when talking about gains and losses, though you can also use 🉐️ to talk about a bargain or good deal, both literally and metaphorically.
- “Your hard work will pay 🉐️ off in the future!”
- “Ugh, I hate it when people sell counterfeit makeup online. 🉐️”
- “It’s their loss, but it could definitely be your 🉐️.”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - toku and 🇨🇳 - de.
-
㊙ means “secret. ” The kanji “秘” on its own means “secret,” but it also comes from the Japanese word “秘密” (himitsu), which means “secrecy,” “privacy,” or “confidentiality.” [15] X Research source People typically use this emoji when they’re talking about a secret of their own or something they were sworn to secrecy about. [16] X Research source
- “Can’t say! It’s ㊙️, haha”
- “I’m so glad you liked the cookies, but I can’t share the recipe. It’s a family ㊙️.”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - hee and 🇨🇳 - mee.
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㊗️ means “congratulations. ” The kanji “祝” comes from the Japanese word “祝い” (iwai), which literally means “congratulations” or “celebration.” [17] X Research source You can use this emoji to denote some kind of celebration or special event, whether it’s a marriage, birthday, or something else entirely. [18] X Research source
- “㊗️ Happy birthday Sarah!”
- “㊗️ Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - iwai and 🇨🇳 - zhu.
-
🈴️ means “passing grade” or “go. ” The kanji “合” is used in a lot of different Japanese words; however, this version of “合” comes from the word “合格” (gōkaku), which means “passing grade,” “pass,” “success,” or “passing an exam.” [19] X Research source You can use this emoji when talking about their grades or a test they just passed (in an academic sense). [20] X Research source Other people use this emoji to literally represent the word “go” (which is a pronunciation of the kanji). [21] X Research source
- “I’m so relieved, I passed my math final 🈴️”
- “A new school year, a new challenge 🈴️”
- “What are you waiting for? Let’s go! 🈴️”
- As a Chinese character, “合” (pronounced as “he”) means “combine.” Certain people might use it to emphasize the word “combine” in a message, like “I think if we combine our workload, we can get even more done. 🈴️”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - gō and 🇨🇳 - he.
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🈵️ means “no vacancy,” “full,” or “limited. ” On its own, this kanji means “being full.” When used in a verb, “満ちる” (michiru) means “to become full (of),” “to be filled (with),” or “to fill.” [22] X Research source Some people just use this emoji to emphasize the word “full” in a message (like if they just filled up their car’s tank with gas). [23] X Research source In other cases, people use this emoji to talk about something that’s limited. [24] X Research source
- “Come quickly! The store is almost sold out of PS5s 🈵”
- “Wow, that buffet really did me in. I’m stuffed! 🈵”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - mitsuru and 🇨🇳 - mun.
-
🈹️ means “discount. ” This kanji comes from the Japanese word “割り” (wari), which means means “discount” or “rebate.” [25] X Research source This emoji is pretty straightforward—most people use it to represent a sale going on somewhere. [26] X Research source
- “The grocery store is having a crazy deal on snow crabs today! 🈹️”
- “I’m down to get some pizza for dinner. My local spot is offering a great deal! 🈹️”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - wari and 🇨🇳 - ge.
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🈲️ means “banned,” “prohibited,” or “mysterious. ” On its own, the kanji “禁” literally means “prohibition” or “ban”—it’s often used in the word “禁煙” (kinen), which means “to quit smoking.” [27] X Research source People use this emoji to discuss when something isn’t allowed. [28] X Research source Others use it to describe the sense of mystery that something has, or when they’re dreading something. [29] X Research source
- “Sorry, man. I don’t think you’re allowed to bring your own food into the movie theater. 🈲️”
- “Maybe we’ll never know if 👽 exist. I, for one, enjoy the mystery 🈲️”
- “I can’t shake the feeling that something really bad is about to happen. 🈲️”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - kin and 🇨🇳 - jin.
-
🈯️ means “reserved,” “pointing,” or “finger. ” The 🈯️ emoji often represents the word “reserved”; however, the kanji “指” also means “finger” or “digit.” When used as a verb, like “指す” (sasu), it means “to point.” [30] X Research source Some people use this emoji when chatting about a literal reservation, like at a restaurant. You can also prefer to reference the “finger” or “pointing” meaning of the emoji when they use it. [31] X Research source
- “So grateful that Mary saved a seat for me in the reserved class 🈯”
- “Super excited! Just got reservations at the new seafood place in town. 🈯”
- “I don’t think it’s fair to point fingers when we don’t even know what happened. 🈯”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - yubi and 🇨🇳 - zhi.
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🈳️ means “vacancy,” “emptiness,” or “opening. ” The kanji “空” can mean “sky,” but for the sake of this emoji, it means “vacancy” or “emptiness.” [32] X Research source You can use this emoji to let friends know about a vacant spot, like in a parking lot. Other people might also use the emoji to signify a job opening or vacancy. [33] X Research source
- “Meet me downtown! There’s parking available on Main Street. 🈳”
- “If you’re still on the job market, I found an opening at the local bakery. 🥖🈳”
- Pronunciation: 🇯🇵 - kara and 🇨🇳 - kong.
-
🈂️ means “service charge” or “served.” This emoji actually includes the letter “サ” (sa) in katakana, a Japanese alphabet. For this emoji, “サ” is shorthand for “サービス (saabisu/service).” Some use this emoji to refer to a literal service charge or payment, while others use it in a more metaphorical sense, like “serving someone right.” [34] X Research source
- “With the extra service charge, the total payment is $120. 🈂️”
- “Can’t say I’m disappointed. Serves you right for voting against me! 🈂️”
- “If you ask me, she did everyone a service. 🈂️”
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🈁️ (koko) means “here.” “ココ” literally means “here” in Japanese, and typically means the exact same thing in emoji form. You can use 🈁️ to replace the word “here” in a conversation. You can also like to use this emoji metaphorically, and will include it with quotes and messages that use the word “here.” [35] X Research source
- “Where are you?” “🈁️”
- “Here we go! 🈁️”
- Japanese has 3 alphabets: kanji, hiragana, and katakana. In most forms of Japanese, “koko” is traditionally spelled in hiragana (ここ) rather than katakana (ココ). Hiragana and kanji are used to write traditional Japanese, while katakana is typically used to write loan words/cognates from other languages.
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- The kun-yomi pronunciation of a kanji is typically used when the character is written on its own. The on-yomi pronunciation is usually applied to words that use multiple kanji. [36] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://guidetojapanese.org/learn/complete/kanji#Kanji_Readings
- ↑ https://emojiterra.com/japanese-acceptable-button/
- ↑ https://www.japandict.com/%E6%9C%89%E6%96%99#entry-1541690
- ↑ https://whatemoji.org/japanese-not-free-of-charge-button/
- ↑ https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/kanji/2653/%E7%84%A1
- ↑ https://www.emojiall.com/en/emoji/%F0%9F%88%9A
- ↑ https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/word/34772/shinsei-%E7%94%B3%E8%AB%8B-%E3%81%97%E3%82%93%E3%81%9B%E3%81%84
- ↑ https://jitenon.com/kanji/%E7%94%B3
- ↑ https://jisho.org/search/%E5%96%B6%E6%A5%AD
- ↑ https://www.emojiall.com/en/emoji/%F0%9F%88%BA
- ↑ https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/kanji/736/%E6%9C%88
- ↑ https://www.emojiall.com/en/emoji/%F0%9F%88%B7%EF%B8%8F
- ↑ https://emojipedia.org/white-flower
- ↑ https://www.japandict.com/%E5%BE%97#entry-1454490
- ↑ https://www.japandict.com/%E7%A7%98%E5%AF%86#entry-1484150
- ↑ https://www.emojiall.com/en/emoji/%E3%8A%99
- ↑ https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/kanji/1265/%E7%A5%9D
- ↑ https://www.emojiall.com/en/emoji/%E3%8A%97
- ↑ https://jisho.org/search/%E5%90%88
- ↑ https://emojiterra.com/japanese-passing-grade-button/
- ↑ https://whatemoji.org/japanese-passing-grade-button/
- ↑ https://www.japandict.com/%E6%BA%80%E3%81%A1%E3%82%8B?lang=eng
- ↑ https://emojipedia.org/ja/%E6%BA%80%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF
- ↑ https://whatemoji.org/japanese-no-vacancy-button
- ↑ https://jisho.org/search/%E5%89%B2
- ↑ https://emojipedia.org/japanese-discount-button
- ↑ https://www.japandict.com/%E7%A6%81#entry-1956110
- ↑ https://www.emojiall.com/en/emoji/%F0%9F%88%B2
- ↑ https://emojis.wiki/japanese-prohibited-button/
- ↑ https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/kanji/1090/%E6%8C%87
- ↑ https://emojis.wiki/japanese-reserved-button/
- ↑ https://jisho.org/search/%E7%A9%BA%20
- ↑ https://emojis.wiki/japanese-vacancy-button/
- ↑ https://whatemoji.org/japanese-service-charge-button/
- ↑ https://emojipedia.org/japanese-here-button
- ↑ https://guidetojapanese.org/learn/complete/kanji#Kanji_Readings
About This Article
This article was co-authored by Imad Jbara
and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman
. Imad Jbara is a Dating Coach for NYC Wingwoman LLC, a relationship coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Imad services 100+ clients, men and women, to improve their dating lives through authentic communication skills. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. This article has been viewed 99,347 times.
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