wavy dash
Unicode: 3030 FE0F
Description
A wavy dash or zigzag line, often appearing as a squiggly line.
Group:
Symbols > punctuation
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Generally does not convey emotion directly; its emotional nuance depends heavily on context.
Backstory
This character (WAVY DASH or WAVE DASH) has its origins in Japanese typography for indicating long vowels. The 'FE0F' is a variation selector that ensures it is displayed as an emoji, if possible, rather than just text.
Usage Examples
- As a long vowel marker in Japanese: 'ラーメン' (rāmen) might be written as 'ラーメ〜ン' informally.
- To indicate approximation: '〜10km away' (approximately 10km away).
- As a 'ditto' mark in informal lists or forms.
- To represent a wave or fluctuating state: '電波が悪い〜' (The radio waves are bad~).
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Can represent a wavy motion, a 'ditto' mark, or an emphasis (similar to a tilde). In informal contexts, it might be used artistically or to indicate 'approximately'.
East Asian culture:
In Japan, it is known as 'Chōonpu' (長音符) and is used to indicate a long vowel sound in Katakana and sometimes Hiragana. It can also be used as a 'wave' or 'vibration' indicator in informal settings or to denote a repeated sound/action.