Japanese Emoticons
(
86)
Thu 2007/09/06 07:16
I think pretty much all of us use emoticons. I started off with ":-)" back in the UK and gradually picked up the Japanese equivalents "^^" upon moving to Japan.
Previously used western emoticons when I first started blogging but as I started to read more and more Japanese blogs and communicate in Japanese through mail, I naturally picked up usage of Japanese emoticons. I discovered that I could express "fake-laughing-in-embarrassment-with-cold-sweat" with the "^^;" emoticon - have no idea how to express that feeling with a western emoticon (if anybody has a link for a western emoticon dictionary then feel free to share.)
I still use both depending on the context. For example when at Amazon and Microsoft, mails to folks at HQ in the US would be riddled with western emoticons. Sending my Vice President (the guy who reports to Jeff Bezos) mails full of (＾ω＾) or (*⌒ー⌒*) would have probably affected my salary ^^;
What do you prefer to use? Do you use both? Do you understand both? Are there emoticons that you reckon we haven't seen before?
I didn't use the term "VS" this time round as I'm interested in knowing what you use most often.
You can see lists of Japanese emoticons here and here.
Just got back from dinner and this is some of what we had. After living in the UK for...(more)
Wed 09/05 11:41 comments (67)
You are in Japan and are trying to save as ...(more)
Wed 08/29 07:32 comments (49)
Director/代表取締役
This post was recovered from google cache. Could not recover the comments though.
(ID #56514) Posted on 2007/09/11 10:06
I personally use "western" emoticons. Since they (imo) are easier to type out. But as for being able to express more emotions and cooler looking, Asian emoticons defiantly win in that category. (=ω=.)
(ID #56624) Posted on 2007/09/12 03:28
Yep, copying ω from somewhere just sounds too much work. But I use ^^ all the time.
(ID #318677) Posted on 2008/09/30 18:58
i use both normally
(ID #56679) Posted on 2007/09/12 22:40
Web Design & Development
c^,)
(ID #56711) Posted on 2007/09/13 06:54
I like this one: :3 (It's just too cute! XD)
(ID #56927) Posted on 2007/09/15 09:37
(n.n)
(ID #57336) Posted on 2007/09/21 05:27
Well, I prefer the japanese emoticons since they are cutter (harder to see, sometimes u see just some strange sticks and dont hv idea that it was an emoticon). I use the ^^ for years and didn´t realize about this, logs dated of 1996 hving it, hmm, perhaps it´s on japanese DNA =P
(ID #58827) Posted on 2007/10/08 20:41
I use both of them, yet sometimes mix them up like this >D</
(ID #176911) Posted on 2008/04/29 02:45
Proud VGI member and IT student...
I mixed and created my own... theough the only one I use is (;￣▽￣)...
(ID #176928) Posted on 2008/04/29 03:02
WebDesign, Coding, Administration
I mostly use Japanese ones since i have a better idea of them due watching loads of anime. ;)
(ID #317480) Posted on 2008/09/29 23:27
I personally use a mixture of both western and Japanese emoticons, Japanese ones are definitely have a wider variety of expressiveness. But I only use a few of the simple ones since I cant seem to remember how to use the more detailed emoticons.
(ID #317493) Posted on 2008/09/29 23:39
Internet contents, music, webdev
Japanese ones are most expressive and fun. Also you don't have to turn your head sideways!
(ID #317494) Posted on 2008/09/29 23:41
ｷﾀ━━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━━━━ !!!!!
(ID #317498) Posted on 2008/09/29 23:45
anime, programmer, gfx designer, illustrator ^^
All Japanese ^^ ~~~ヾ(＾∇＾)おはよー♪ ( ^_^)／ やぁ！ (*≧▽≦)オハツでっす♪ （ ´∀｀） （*＾＾）＾*） ☆Chu！！ ^^
(ID #317517) Posted on 2008/09/29 23:58
Student, Slave to the Education System (Click below for Video Reviews of figures and more!)
Western emoticons are common in my area. I would love to use Japanese emoticons more often, but I have no idea what characters to use and don't have many examples to follow...
(ID #317524) Posted on 2008/09/30 00:02
Use both, been a fan of the asian horizontal style since the late 90s. Mustve randomly come up with it, as the Internet was a lot smaller back then, and I probably didn't see a Japanese site until around the turn of the millennium. My first anime internet visit was to a Sailor Moon english fansite in 96 or 97, memories... ^^
(ID #317529) Posted on 2008/09/30 00:09
Student, Freelance Figure Review Writer
still like to mix around my emoticons. but now, most of my friends use the Japanese emoticons. Well, it's getting popular imo!
(ID #317531) Posted on 2008/09/30 00:09
There are too many emoticons. Who can tell what they all mean without a look-up table? What about this one? >:C
(ID #317567) Posted on 2008/09/30 00:47
>:E
(ID #318681) Posted on 2008/09/30 19:00
I usually use western emo, recently watching lucky star and learned some of Japanese emo from the konata chatting. (^W^)
(ID #317578) Posted on 2008/09/30 00:59
Gotta love the Japanese ones.. Looks more creative and fun.. Tho I have no idea how to type them out.
(ID #317593) Posted on 2008/09/30 01:14
Student/Photographer
∑(O_O；)Shock！！
(ID #317621) Posted on 2008/09/30 01:33
I have a friend in Singapore who used a few Chinese style emoticons that I didn't see elsewhere...until I found dannychoo.com. There seems to be a bigger variety of Eastern style ones, though I only use ones that make sense to me visually so that I don't 'say' the wrong thing..
(ID #317634) Posted on 2008/09/30 01:42
Student, Spiral Warrior
Never thought much about the distinction, just used whatever seemed the best expressive.
(ID #317640) Posted on 2008/09/30 01:45
I have been using western emoticons and knew very little japanese emoticons until reading this article. So thanks for the article :) ... ee, I meant ＼（＾ ＾）／
(ID #317653) Posted on 2008/09/30 01:55
Part human, part student, 100% loser
Japanese emoticons FTW!
(ID #317667) Posted on 2008/09/30 02:03
Informatics(ComSci-ish) student/self-taught graphic designer and illustrator/Network Operations Support Analyst
I use both but I prefer the Japanese/Other Asian countries one ^_^ They're much cuter ^o^
(ID #317669) Posted on 2008/09/30 02:05
I use both. Does orz count too? ^^
(ID #317692) Posted on 2008/09/30 02:21
student
I didn't know there was actually "Japanese" and "Western" emoticons. I thought it was universal and some people just go to the extreme of creating their own ^^;. For me, I basically just use these and whatever variation of it- ^^, xD, >_<. >_>, <_<, :D. Nothing more
(ID #317717) Posted on 2008/09/30 02:50
I just use whatever emoticon I think works the best on the situation. I do tend to use more of the jap ones for the simple fact that I don't have to bend my head to see them.
(ID #317737) Posted on 2008/09/30 03:11
proletariate
the western emoticons are usually described as 1 dimensional, while the eastern(china, japan, korea) are 2D, and are generally called "Kaomoji"(かおもじ) just press space after(just like you would to turn Hana or Kata into kanji) to get the list of the hundreds of kaomoji through IME. I use them a lot through windows Japanese IME program. does mac have an IME program for eastern languages(reading and typing)?
(ID #317743) Posted on 2008/09/30 03:15
Student in Computer Science
Usually, I use both of them. Japanese emoticons are very kawaiiii. Peace! ---> (^_^)v
(ID #317750) Posted on 2008/09/30 03:20
Engineer-wannabe
japanese emo hv more expression,n fun^^
(ID #317763) Posted on 2008/09/30 03:35
Japanese emotiocons tend to focus on the eyes where as western ones are more focus on the face see http://www.livescience.com/health/070510_facial_culture.html
(ID #317778) Posted on 2008/09/30 03:45
a female demon possessed a guy body but end up controled by guy's "burning desire"...
the only chinese emoticom i know and can't use at all...(forgive me) 凸(>_<)凸 ....ahem...ahem...i saw this from newspaper....fews years ago, but this is coolest chinese emoticon in my mind library.
(ID #317786) Posted on 2008/09/30 03:50
Vampire
(b'-')b Two thumbs up on this article!
(ID #317792) Posted on 2008/09/30 03:57
Depends on my mood and whom I'm talking too. Some applications (Chatzilla, for example, or mIRC) don't always recognize the Japanese emoticons, so I default to Western. But being raised on computers in the States, I guess that makes sense.
(ID #317795) Posted on 2008/09/30 04:02
Student
I use both. But I do hate bringing up the character map everytime I want to do ≧∀≦ or similar.
(ID #317856) Posted on 2008/09/30 05:16
Student
And it didn't even work...
(ID #317857) Posted on 2008/09/30 05:18
I rarely use emoticons. When I do it's usually a variation of these bases: (>Oo)> <(Oo)> <(oO<) or XD
(ID #317883) Posted on 2008/09/30 06:19
For the sake of typing whatever is easiest, I tend to over use ^^ or ><. They pretty much express what my real expression would be like. Occasionally, there are times when I use :P but that only happens once in a while. Perhaps one reason for ignoring most of the emoticons is so that they won't show up on msn messenger message boxes. They generally look bad and annoy me.
(ID #317897) Posted on 2008/09/30 06:41
I don't really use emoticons much, but when I do I just use western emoticons.
(ID #317901) Posted on 2008/09/30 06:45
How about this -- I just invented it.
>
>:C
(ID #317907) Posted on 2008/09/30 07:01
I use both emoticons, Japanese and Western. When I text on my phone I tend to lean towards Western (iPhone go figure). When I'm posting comments for forums, blogs, or for Danny Choo I tend to go Japanese. ^_^
(ID #317916) Posted on 2008/09/30 07:19
Student, Fansubber, Freelance Web Forum Admin
I orz a lot. :P Otherwise, :V
(ID #317970) Posted on 2008/09/30 08:13
My knowledge of emoticons is limited to under 10. I have no idea which is west or japanese type.
(ID #317981) Posted on 2008/09/30 08:27
http://sakuran-kaomoji.pya.jp/kaotop.html has a lot of good ones. Add them in the dictionary tool in the language bar, add a word by putting the smiley in display and what you want it to convert from in the reading. Example: Reading: ：D Display: (ﾟ∀ﾟ)
(ID #317990) Posted on 2008/09/30 08:48
I'm all for (>w<)' or my simplified >w<''
(ID #317991) Posted on 2008/09/30 08:48
Ninja / Engineer / Time Traveler / Sensei
I like them all. I just tend to choose what best fits the situation.
(ID #318033) Posted on 2008/09/30 09:27
Blogger+Student
I like both of them, but I mostly use Japanese style (>ω <)"
(ID #318035) Posted on 2008/09/30 09:28
study
i would like this one the pig (＾ω＾) look like my uncle
(ID #318057) Posted on 2008/09/30 09:57
=O =) =P =S =3 8) =/ Can't remember more.
(ID #318077) Posted on 2008/09/30 10:16
anime/cosplay events organizer
I'm using the japanese emoticons more during chatting ^____^
(ID #318101) Posted on 2008/09/30 10:44
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
Both... though mostly western because I never learned how to type the japanese ones correctly. I do use the simple ones quite oftenly though... like -_- o_O T_T and ^^'
(ID #318202) Posted on 2008/09/30 12:32
I didn't know there were differences in emoticons. I just use them all. ^_^ =p
(ID #318232) Posted on 2008/09/30 12:57
I don't use emoticons, as I prefer to use more direct language to express how I'm feeling if I see the need to do so. The most Internet vernacular I use is tags such as <sarcasm> if I feel that I could be misconstrued.
(ID #318242) Posted on 2008/09/30 13:04
Supreme Babysitter
I use a mix, including making up my own and typing forum emote shortcuts like :heh:
I used to use JP bunny a lot, you can add different faces
( (
( ^_^)
((")(")
or cheeri-o bunny
( (
( p_o)
((")(")
he can hold a cup of tea too cU
(ID #318243) Posted on 2008/09/30 13:07
Student
I typically use a combination of both. From -_-" and == to :] and |:
(ID #318245) Posted on 2008/09/30 13:09
Mahastudent
I use both of them 'coz, well, sometimes when you want to type quickly, Japanese emoticon is not an option for some people, I think ^^;
(ID #318334) Posted on 2008/09/30 14:37
student
i always use the asian ones, but sometimes its not possible to make certain emoticons as they use shift_jis characters which i don't know how to make >_<
(ID #318352) Posted on 2008/09/30 14:47
Optimus Prime
typing ^O^; Is kinda Weeaboo nation pride. OMG SO KAWAII DESU!! I mean.. if you typed that from seeing a kitten drinking from a Dear tit, then its totally exceptional. Just not for stupid shit
(ID #318394) Posted on 2008/09/30 15:10
I guess i mix. Started off with western, but simplified Japanese are commonly recognized now: So =), =D, XD, =, DX etc. and T.T, ^.^, >.>;, orz etc.
(ID #318600) Posted on 2008/09/30 17:54
Receptionist/ Accountant/ Junior Designer/ Illustrator
I use both but, definitely prefer the Japanese ones due to their ability to express a variety of emotions.
(ID #318615) Posted on 2008/09/30 18:06
The only emoticons I use are =D =) =( ^^ T.T
(ID #318661) Posted on 2008/09/30 18:40
I use a standard QWERTY keyboard so I cant make most of the Japanese emoticons. I think they look better, though. Anyway, I dont like using many emoticons. The ones I use are: :D :P ^^ ^^; <_< T_T but my favorite is still this one: ^^
(ID #318679) Posted on 2008/09/30 18:59
I think there's a wider range of emotions in the Japanese ones so I tend to use them. However, if I'm sending email to the parents or someone who I know would be entirely unfamiliar with the Japanese set, I make it a point to stick to the Western ones. And I never use them in work emails.
(ID #318692) Posted on 2008/09/30 19:12
I use western emoticons.
(ID #318726) Posted on 2008/09/30 19:58
I only use two emoticons: :P and .____.
(ID #318731) Posted on 2008/09/30 20:09
I use both, and depends who I chat with too.
(ID #318758) Posted on 2008/09/30 21:01
Game Designer
western of course, i cant get japanese's meaning
(ID #318773) Posted on 2008/09/30 21:32
Alot of the japanese ones are too complicatedXD And some of them don't come up unless I switch to japanese typing which is bothersomg IMOXD I usually do a mix or simplified japanese ^.^"
(ID #318791) Posted on 2008/09/30 22:11
well if i knew how to gwt Japanese emoticons on a qwerty keyboard.. i'd use it more often
(ID #318796) Posted on 2008/09/30 22:22
(./.p (o.@) "._.' (O-Q,.) [._.?] (n.n) Cant remember more
(ID #318814) Posted on 2008/09/30 22:38
「頂の座」 in Between the side of nowhere and the middle of nowhere, Singapore (Registered on 2008/01/05 22:24)
NEET
~(8(|) Homer Simpson?
(ID #318839) Posted on 2008/09/30 23:06
Eastern for sure...
=.=
=_="
~_~
<{<....(crow<<most popular i Taiwan when ppl are swting...)
O_O
Y.Y=T.T cry
/{OlO}/ (ultraman)
v 0V0 v (ultraman monster wadeva)
lol=not laugh out loud..is people cheering...
(ID #318934) Posted on 2008/10/01 01:40
I use both without any distinction （ ´∀｀）
(ID #319122) Posted on 2008/10/01 06:39
i use whichever that can express my feeling at the current moment ┐(ﾟ∀ﾟ)┌
(ID #319149) Posted on 2008/10/01 07:48
Close-protection officer/Martial artist
Now unless I want to use the default animated icons, of say YahooIM, I'd definitely use the enhanced eye emoticons of the east. ^_~
(ID #319154) Posted on 2008/10/01 07:52
