1.
kaomoji; text emoticon; smiley face
A facial expression created with text characters, used in digital communication to convey emotions. Japanese kaomoji are typically read horizontally and use a wider variety of characters than Western emoticons.
顔文字を使う。
To use emoticons.
メールに顔文字を入れると柔らかい印象になる。
Adding emoticons to emails gives a softer impression.
ビジネスメールでは顔文字を使わないほうがいいと言われている。
It is said that you shouldn't use emoticons in business emails.
Literally 'face character' (顔 face + 文字 character). Refers to emoticons made from text characters, such as (^_^) or (T_T). Japanese kaomoji are distinct from Western emoticons in that they are read face-on (not tilted sideways) and often use a much wider set of Unicode characters.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 顔文字を使う: to use emoticons
- 顔文字を入れる: to insert an emoticon
- 顔文字一覧: list of emoticons
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 絵文字: emoji — pictographic characters (now a global term); distinct from text-based kaomoji
- スタンプ: LINE stickers — image-based expressions used on the LINE messaging app
CULTURAL NOTE:
Kaomoji became hugely popular in Japan during the early internet era and remain widely used in casual text messages and social media. Common examples include (^_^) for happiness, (T_T) for crying, and (>_<) for frustration.