frowning face
Unicode: 2639
Description
A white frowning face, often depicted with a simple, curved line drawn downwards for the mouth.
Group:
Smileys & Emotion > face-concerned
Status:
unqualified
Emotion:
Generally represents unhappiness, discomfort, or disapproval. Unlike more intense sad emojis, this one is often used for mild disgruntlement or a 'meh' feeling.
Backstory
The white frowning face ☹️ (U+2639) is a much older Unicode character, part of the Dingbats block, introduced in Unicode 1.1 (1993). Its simpler, more geometric design predates the richer, emotively complex emojis like 🙁 (slightly frowning face) or 😢 (crying face) that came with later Unicode versions. It often appears as a monochrome symbol.
Usage Examples
- Expressing mild unhappiness: 'My train is delayed again. ☹'
- Showing disapproval: 'That movie was not great. ☹'
- Reacting to a simple negative situation: 'Rain all weekend. ☹'
- Subtle complaint: 'This coffee is a bit cold. ☹'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Frequently used to express mild disappointment, annoyance, or a 'not happy' sentiment without being overly dramatic.
East Asian culture:
Can be used similarly for slight displeasure or to express a common 'face' for something unappealing. In some contexts, it might be used more for a visual representation of a 'down' mood than for intense sadness.