sweat droplets
Unicode: 1F4A6
Description
Three droplets of blue liquid, arranged in a triangular formation, with the top droplet slightly larger than the two below it.
Group:
Smileys & Emotion > emotion
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically represents sweat, water, or other liquids. Often associated with effort, exertion, nervousness, or cleanliness.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010). Its design is likely influenced by common cartoon tropes where sweat drops appear on characters to signify physical exertion or embarrassment.
Usage Examples
- Indicating sweating after exercise: 'Just finished my run! 💧💧💧'
- Expressing nervousness: 'Presentation tomorrow, I'm already sweating 💧'
- Representing water: 'Need to drink more water 💧'
- Showing minor embarrassment or awkwardness (especially in East Asian contexts): 'Oops, spilled my coffee 💧'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Frequently used to denote sweat (from physical activity, stress, or nervousness), water, or sometimes tears (though 😠is more common).
East Asian culture:
In manga and anime, a single or multiple sweat drops on a character's head is a common visual shorthand for embarrassment, confusion, or awkwardness.