folded hands: light skin tone
Unicode: 1F64F 1F3FB
Description
A person with hands pressed together in a prayer-like gesture, showing a light skin tone. The hands are typically depicted upright, with fingers extended.
Group:
People & Body > hands
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Commonly expresses gratitude, prayer, hope, respect, or apology. It can also signify 'thank you' or 'please' in a humble manner.
Backstory
This emoji (κΈ°λνλ μ in Korean, 'praying hands') was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010), representing a common gesture across many cultures and religions. The addition of skin tone modifiers in Unicode 8.0 (2015) allowed for greater representation.
Usage Examples
- Expressing thanks: 'Thanks for your help! ππ»'
- Wishing good luck: 'Praying for you! ππ»'
- Making a request: 'Please let this happen! ππ»'
- Showing respect: 'Namaste ππ»'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Widely understood as prayer or a plea, often in religious contexts or when asking for a favor. Also used to express thanks.
East Asian culture:
Frequently used as a 'thank you' or 'please' gesture (gassho/wai/nanae), particularly in Japan and parts of Southeast Asia, stemming from Buddhist traditions. It can also signify respect or greeting.
India:
Represents Namaste or Namaskar, a respectful greeting and salutation.