It is very difficult to talk to Chinese people without using emojis. Whenever a Chinese friend Facebook messages me, I feel compelled to reply with WeChat because there are messages and nuances that can only be expressed with emojis that only exist on WeChat.
It is very difficult to talk to Chinese people without using emojis. Whenever a Chinese friend Facebook $META messages me, I feel compelled to reply with WeChat because there are messages and nuances that can only be expressed with emojis that only exist on WeChat.
The difference between emojis on Chinese and Western apps can shed light on some interesting cultural disparities. I have noticed that Chinese messaging apps tend to have a lot more emojis for expressing deference and embarrassment (with elements like blushing)—traditional Chinese culture prizes humility and indirectness. You can never ask someone a favor without profusely expressing how bad you feel; you can never ask for someone’s time without showing that you think you are hardly worthy of their time.
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Below are some emojis that I use most frequently while communicating on WeChat, but do not really have equivalents on Western messengers like Facebook Messenger and iMessage.
Official Name: Shy
Actual Meaning:
Function:
Example:
Official name: Blush
Actual meaning:
Function:
Example:
Official Name: Smile
Actual Meaning:
Function:
*Note: DO NOT use this with friends (unless you are over 40), otherwise your friend will think you are trying to end the friendship by treating them like a stranger.
Example:
Official Name: Trick
Actual Meaning:
Function:
Example 1:
Example 2:
Official Name: Fight
Actual Meaning:
(This is a salute commonly used in Chinese kung fu before people fight each other. It is a mutual show of respect for each other’s skills and abilities.)
Function:
Example:
Official Name: Chuckle
Actual Meaning:
Function:
Example 1:
Example 2:
Official Name: Scowl
Actual Meaning:
Function:
Example:
Official Name: Grimace
Actual Meaning:
Function:
Example:
This post originally appeared on Zara’s blog. Zara co-hosts a biweekly podcast on tech in China called 996 By GGV Capital, and co-authors an email newsletter on the same subject. This article is part of Quartz Ideas, our home for bold arguments and big thinkers.
