double exclamation mark
Unicode: 203C
Description
Two exclamation marks, one above the other. Often used to indicate an emphatic or urgent warning.
Group:
Symbols > punctuation
Status:
unqualified
Emotion:
Signifies strong emphasis, urgency, warning, alarm, or heightened excitement/concern.
Backstory
The double exclamation mark is a very old punctuation mark, dating back centuries. Its digital representation (U+203C) was included in Unicode 1.1 (1993) to standardize its use across digital platforms. While a common punctuation mark, its inclusion as an emoji allows it to be easily used in contexts where other emojis are present, maintaining its core meaning of emphasis or warning.
Usage Examples
- Urgent warning: 'Danger!! 203C'
- Strong emphasis: 'I told you already!! 203C'
- Expressing surprise: 'What?! No way!! 203C'
- Calling attention: 'Important notice!! 203C'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Frequently used in informal digital communication to add extra emphasis to a statement, express surprise, or indicate a strong warning. Can sometimes be seen as overly aggressive or alarmist if overused.
East Asian culture:
Similar usage to Western culture for emphasis or warning. In some contexts, particularly in manga or visual novels, it can be used to denote a sudden realization or an 'aha!' moment for a character, or a sharp, sudden sound.