astonished face
Unicode: 1F632
Description
A yellow circular face with wide, open eyes that are narrowed at the sides, open mouth in an 'O' shape, and raised eyebrows, giving it a surprised or shocked expression.
Group:
Smileys & Emotion > face-concerned
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically represents shock, surprise, amazement, awe, or even a sense of being overwhelmed.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010) as part of a set of facial expressions designed to convey common human emotions. Its clear and dramatic features make it highly effective for digital communication.
Usage Examples
- Reacting to surprising news: 'No way! 😱'
- Expressing shock at information: 'Did you see that? 😱'
- Showing amazement: 'That magic trick was incredible! 😱'
- Humorous exaggeration of surprise: 'My dog ate my homework! 😱'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Commonly used to express genuine surprise or shock, sometimes with a humorous undertone. Can also indicate being dumbfounded.
East Asian culture:
Similar usage to Western culture, often used to express a strong reaction to something unexpected or unbelievable, sometimes playfully.
General:
Universally understood as a symbol of surprise or astonishment. The intensity of surprise can vary based on context.