pinching hand: medium-dark skin tone
Unicode: 1F90F 1F3FE
Description
A dark-skinned hand pinching. This emoji depicts the thumb and forefinger extended slightly apart as if to indicate a small amount or to pinch something.
Group:
People & Body > hand-fingers-partial
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Can express 'just a little bit,' 'small amount,' or a playful gesture of pinching. Its meaning is highly contextual.
Backstory
This emoji, along with other skin tone modifiers, was introduced to expand the representation of hand gestures across various complexions. The pinching hand gesture itself is common in many cultures for expressing smallness or precise actions.
Usage Examples
- Indicating a small amount: 'I just need a pinch of salt 🤏🏾.'
- Expressing 'just a little bit': 'I'm only a 🤏🏾 sleepy.'
- Subtly emphasizing a small detail: 'He's 🤏🏾 particular about his coffee.'
- Playful teasing or gentle warning: 'Just be 🤏🏾 careful.'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Frequently used to denote 'a little bit' or to playfully emphasize a small quantity.
Italian culture:
Similar to the 'ma che vuoi' (what do you want?) gesture, though the pinching hand often implies asking for something or making a point about a small quantity. It's less aggressive than the full 'ma che vuoi' bundle.
Other cultures:
In some cultures, it may carry different or less common connotations, often related to measuring small amounts or subtle emphasis.