man shrugging
Unicode: 1F937 200D 2642
Description
A man shrugging, with furrowed brows, a slightly open mouth, and his palms facing upwards, conveying a sense of 'I don't know' or 'What can you do?'.
Group:
People & Body > person-gesture
Status:
minimally-qualified
Emotion:
Typically represents uncertainty, indifference, helplessness, a lack of knowledge, or a sense of 'it is what it is'.
Backstory
The Shrug emoji (U+1F937) was introduced in Unicode 9.0 in 2016. It quickly became popular as a digital representation of a classic, universally understood gesture that signifies a lack of knowledge or a feeling of helplessness. The ZWJ sequence (200D) with the male sign (2642) specifically depicts a man shrugging.
Usage Examples
- Expressing uncertainty: 'Where did I put my keys? 🤷♂️'
- Showing resignation: 'The train is delayed again. 🤷♂️'
- Admitting ignorance: 'I have no idea what he's talking about. 🤷♂️'
- Conveying helplessness: 'There's nothing more I can do about it. 🤷♂️'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Widely used to express uncertainty, resignation, or a rhetorical 'I don't know' when there's no clear answer or solution. Also signifies 'I can't help you with that'.
East Asian culture:
Understood similarly, but might be used less frequently in very formal contexts where direct admission of ignorance might be seen differently. Still conveys 'I don't know' or 'helplessness'.