person: beard
Unicode: 1F9D4
Description
A figure silhouetted against a plain background, often depicted with a hat and a trench coat or similar attire, obscuring their features. This emoji is known as the 'person in a fedora' or 'person with a mask and hat'.
Group:
People & Body > person
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Often used to convey mystery, anonymity, secrecy, or the concept of an unknown person or a 'shadowy' figure. Can also imply being undercover or hidden.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 9.0 (2016). It represents a generic, anonymous person, often used to symbolize an undefined individual or to add an element of intrigue to a message. Its design evokes classic spy or detective imagery.
Usage Examples
- Expressing mystery: 'Who could that be? 🕵️♀️'
- Talking about an anonymous source: 'I got this tip from a mysterious source. 🕵️'
- Being undercover: 'I'm going incognito tonight. 🕵️'
- Suggesting observation: 'Just observing the situation from a distance. 🕵️'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Frequently associated with spies, detectives, plainclothes police, incognito figures, or sometimes used humorously to suggest someone is trying to be sneaky or inconspicuous.
East Asian culture:
Similar interpretations of mystery or anonymity, sometimes used in contexts of 'lurking' online or observing secretly.