thinking face
Unicode: 1F914
Description
A yellow circular face with a hand on its chin, looking upwards or to the side, seemingly in deep thought, contemplation, or introspection.
Group:
Smileys & Emotion > face-hand
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically represents thinking, pondering, reflection, doubt, skepticism, or considering something carefully.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 8.0 (2015) as a broader addition to express various non-verbal cues beyond simple emotions. It quickly became popular for its versatility in conveying mental processes in digital communication, ranging from serious consideration to playful pondering.
Usage Examples
- Thinking about a decision: 'Should I order pizza or pasta tonight? 🤔'
- Expressing doubt: 'Are you sure that's correct? 🤔'
- Pondering a question: 'What's the meaning of life? 🤔'
- Considering an offer: 'That's an interesting proposal. 🤔'
- Sarcasm or skepticism: 'Oh, *really*? 🤔'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Commonly used to convey 'I'm thinking about it,' 'hmm,' 'interesting point,' or 'let me consider that.'
East Asian culture:
Similar usage to Western culture, often used to express contemplation or a thoughtful pause in a conversation. Can also be used to indicate a slightly skeptical or hesitant thought.