hospital
Unicode: 1F3E5
Description
A dark crimson or red heart shape with a white cross inside, often used to symbolize hospitals, clinics, or emergency services.
Group:
Travel & Places > place-building
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically represents health, medical care, first aid, or sometimes gratitude for medical assistance. It can also imply healing or support.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010). Its design is clearly derived from the traditional symbol for a hospital or first-aid station, which often features a cross on a heart or rectangular background. It serves as a universal visual shorthand for medical services in digital communication.
Usage Examples
- Indicating a hospital visit: 'Just leaving the hospital. 🏥'
- Referring to medical help: 'Need some first aid for this cut. 🏥'
- Expressing thanks to healthcare workers: 'Thank you for all you do! 🏥'
- Discussing health concerns: 'Hope you get well soon! 🏥'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Strongly associated with healthcare, emergency services (ambulances), or medical facilities. Less commonly used for emotional love than the plain red heart.
East Asian culture:
Similar associations with health and medical care. May also be seen in contexts of charitable donations to medical causes.