genie
Unicode: 1F9DE
Description
A person kneeling on the ground, typically with one or both knees bent and resting on the surface.
Group:
People & Body > person-fantasy
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Can represent various emotions depending on context, including reverence, contemplation, prayer, submission, humble request, or being physically exhausted/injured. It can also signify a moment of respect or solidarity.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 10.0 (2017) as part of a push for more gender-inclusive and diverse poses and activities. It aims to represent the act of kneeling without specific religious or gender connotations, allowing for a broader range of uses.
Usage Examples
- Prayer or meditation: 'Starting my day with some quiet time. 🧎'
- Proposing marriage: 'He got down on one knee! 🧎♂️'
- Showing respect/solidarity: 'Taking a knee for the cause. 🧎'
- Physical activity/stretch: 'Doing some deep stretches. 🧎'
- Humility or submission: 'Kneeling before the king. 🧎♀️'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Often associated with prayer, proposal (marriage), or moments of deep respect/mourning. In sports, it can be a protest gesture.
East Asian culture:
May be seen in religious contexts (e.g., bowing before an altar), traditional ceremonies, or as a sign of deep apology or respect (dogeza in Japan).