kissing face
Unicode: 1F617
Description
A yellow circular face with a large, visible sigh of relief or content exhale, closed eyes, and a small, relieved smile. The expression often conveys relaxation or quiet satisfaction.
Group:
Smileys & Emotion > face-affection
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically represents relief, contentment, a quiet sigh of satisfaction, or a sense of peace after a difficult situation. It can also imply being slightly tired but in a relaxed way.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010) as 'Face With Look of Triumph' but its widely perceived meaning evolved to represent 'Relieved Face' or 'Sighing Face'. Its visual design, particularly the exhale, primarily conveys a sense of easing tension or comfort.
Usage Examples
- Feeling relieved: 'Finally done with work! 😌'
- Expressing contentment: 'This coffee is perfect. 😌'
- After a stressful situation: 'That exam was tough, but it's over now. 😌'
- Feeling relaxed: 'Just chilling on the couch. 😌'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Commonly used to express a 'whew' moment of relief, contentment, or calm after stress. Can also denote feeling relaxed or peaceful.
East Asian culture:
Similar usage to Western culture, often signifying relief or a feeling of calmness. Less about sadness and more about a gentle contentedness.