{"id":60,"date":"2023-10-24T03:58:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/2023\/10\/24\/emojis-can-mean-something-totally-different-to-the-chinese\/"},"modified":"2023-10-24T03:58:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:58:29","slug":"emojis-can-mean-something-totally-different-to-the-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/emojis-can-mean-something-totally-different-to-the-chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"Emojis can mean something totally different to the Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"

Emoji first emerged in Japan in the 1990s as a way for people to quickly communicate through visual information. They\u2019ve become mainstream around the world thanks in part to the rise of smartphones and social media platforms.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Emoji first emerged in Japan in the 1990s as a way for people to quickly communicate through visual information. They\u2019ve become mainstream around the world thanks in part to the rise of smartphones and social media platforms.<\/p>\n

\"ae6de2e2cdebf5080eebc7e759c7af43-sz_37264.jpeg@1l_640w.jpeg\"<\/p>\n

WeChat-style Emoji  Photo:Wechat<\/p>\n

But while emoji are familiar to many, the same symbols can have different meanings in different cultures.<\/p>\n

China is a case in point. The country is known for generating creative, peculiar internet memes\u2014ones sometimes deployed to subtly mock authorities. People there have also developed a system for using emoji subversively, so that a smiley face can actually convey contempt.<\/p>\n

The Chinese use emoji primarily on the nation\u2019s two biggest social media platforms: Weibo, with its 313 million monthly users, and WeChat, with its 700 million. The emoji keyboards in these services offer symbols and a style different than what you\u2019d find in, say, WhatsApp.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick guide:<\/span><\/p>\n

Smiley face<\/b>\"3debc51d4b4f0228304cfc858a70c72d-sz_1141.jpeg@1l_640w.jpeg\"<\/p>\n

On the surface<\/b>: Happiness.<\/p>\n

Below the surface<\/b>: A despising, mocking, and even obnoxious attitude.<\/p>\n

Guidance<\/b>: Don\u2019t use it as an expression to say you\u2019re happy about something. Maybe use these instead, since the muscle movements seem to be smiling genuinely:\"22de52ffc0dac9d8da83d5de12ee0709-sz_2176.jpeg@1l_640w.jpeg\"<\/p>\n

Smiley face with a waving hand<\/b>\"59091fbc5d77daffd7d52725e8074b28-sz_1180.jpeg@1l_640w.jpeg\"<\/p>\n

On the surface<\/b>: Goodbye with a smiley face.<\/p>\n

Below the surface<\/b>: \u201cI despise you and really don\u2019t want to talk with you. Please go away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guidance<\/b>: If you see this emoji, you might want to change the topic, or just keep your mouth shut. If you wish to retaliate sarcastically, consider sending back two waving hands. Or just deploy for a genius goodbye.<\/p>\n

Smiling new moon face<\/b>\"501fdec921ee775b761ef07d7b801ecd-sz_1582.jpeg@1l_640w.jpeg\"<\/p>\n

On the surface<\/b>: A moon with a face, hiding in the shadow, according toemojipedia.<\/p>\n

Below the surface<\/b>: Sneaky, creepy, or even \u201cI despise you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guidance<\/b>: Respond with creepiness of your own, but do it with the bright yellow moon face, staring to its right. <\/p>\n

Picking your nose<\/b>\"52a6e4ee98505f2e98a5f2e0db3c7d33-sz_1180.jpeg@1l_640w.jpeg\"<\/p>\n

On the surface<\/b>: Maybe there\u2019s something in your nose?<\/p>\n

Below the surface<\/b>: \u201cI despise you.\u201d (Yes, it\u2019s a recurring theme.)<\/p>\n

Usage<\/b>: Send a smiley face in response\u2014making clear the feeling is mutual.<\/p>\n

Shiba<\/b>\"777b05e9f3f03dc1fb6daa256b614b3b-sz_1568.jpeg@1l_640w.jpeg\"<\/p>\n

On the surface<\/b>: It\u2019s a dog breed from Japan.<\/p>\n

Below the surface<\/b>: \u201cI am just cute and innocent. What are you talking about? I have no idea.\u201d (Also: \u201cI despise you.\u201d)<\/p>\n

Usage<\/b>: We haven\u2019t figured this out yet. Try responding with a shiba. Experiment.<\/p>\n

Hopefully the above is useful. At the very least it should make you paranoid when communicating via emoji in China. Elderly people in that country, if they use emoji at all, are prone to (link in Chinese) taking a smiley face at, er, face value. At least you\u2019ll know better now.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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