Kaomoji

Kaomoji (顔文字) are emoticons primarily popular in Japanese digital communication and elsewhere. Unlike Western-style emoticons, which are often viewed sideways, kaomoji are designed to be read upright, making it easier to perceive the emotion or expression being conveyed. This is achieved by emphasizing the eyes in the construction.

Kaomoji utilize a wider range of characters than Western emoticons, including characters from the Japanese writing systems (hiragana, katakana, and kanji), as well as punctuation marks and symbols. This expanded character set allows for more complex and nuanced expressions.

The term "kaomoji" is a combination of two Japanese words: kao (顔), meaning "face," and moji (文字), meaning "character." Therefore, kaomoji literally translates to "face character."

Kaomoji can express a wide variety of emotions and actions, from simple expressions like happiness and sadness to more complex actions like bowing, waving, or even flipping tables. They are frequently used in online conversations, text messages, and other forms of digital communication to add personality and emotional context to text.

While originating in Japan, kaomoji have gained popularity internationally and are commonly used in various online communities and cultures around the world. Different styles and variations of kaomoji have emerged, reflecting the diverse ways in which people use them to express themselves online.