👈
backhand index pointing left
Unicode: 1F448
Description
A hand pointing left, with the index finger extended and the other fingers curled into a fist. It can be used to indicate direction or to draw attention to something.
Group:
People & Body > hand-single-finger
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Neutral, directive, indicative, instructional.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010) as part of a set of hand gestures, providing digital users with a straightforward way to 'point' in online communication, mimicking real-world gestures.
Usage Examples
- Pointing to an item: 'Look at the sign <--'
- Directing attention: 'The most important information is to the left: <-- key details'
- Referring to previous text: 'As mentioned earlier <--'
- Indicating direction: 'Go this way <-- for the exit'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Commonly used to point out directions, highlight text, or refer to something previously mentioned.
East Asian culture:
Generally similar usage, but in some contexts, directly pointing at people can be considered rude, so gestures might be used more cautiously.