double exclamation mark
Unicode: 203C FE0F
Description
A red exclamation mark immediately followed by a white question mark, typically rendered as a single glyph with a question mark on top of an exclamation mark, conveying a strong sense of confusion, surprise, or disbelief.
Group:
Symbols > punctuation
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Commonly expresses bewilderment, shock, incredulity, or a combination of questioning and urgent emphasis. It's often used when something is both confusing and significant.
Backstory
This emoji, combining U+203C DOUBLE EXCLAMATION MARK and U+FE0F VARIATION SELECTOR-16, is designed to represent a unique combined punctuation. While the double exclamation mark existed, the question exclamation mark (often referred to as 'interrobang') had been proposed in typography for a while. The 203C FE0F sequence typically renders as the interrobang-like symbol representing confusion and emphasis.
Usage Examples
- Expressing confusion and surprise: 'Wait, they did what?! ⁉️'
- Showing disbelief: 'You're telling me THAT happened?! ⁉️'
- Emphasizing a confusing point: 'The plot twist was so unexpected! ⁉️'
- Reacting to something unbelievable: 'I can't believe this is real! ⁉️'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Frequently used to denote extreme surprise, confusion, or a rhetorical question that expresses disbelief. Can also emphasize a point that is both questioned and crucial.
East Asian culture:
Similar usage, often seen in manga/anime to convey a character's bewildered or shocked reaction to an unexpected event or statement.