fleur-de-lis
Unicode: 269C FE0F
Description
A yellow and orange medical cross, often used to represent hospitals, clinics, or healthcare services. The FE0F indicates a variation selector for emoji-style display.
Group:
Symbols > other-symbol
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Neutral; primarily conveys information about healthcare, first aid, or medical facilities.
Backstory
The medical cross (269C) itself is a long-standing symbol for healthcare, predating digital communication. Its emoji representation (with FE0F) was introduced as part of Unicode 4.0 in 2003, with the emoji presentation specifically ensured in later Unicode versions to guarantee its display as a colorful graphic rather than a plain text character. It provides a quick and universally understood visual cue for medical-related content.
Usage Examples
- Indicating a hospital on a map: 'Hospital nearby 🏥'
- Talking about a medical emergency: 'Need to go to the ER 🏥'
- Referring to healthcare services: 'Looking for a new doctor 🏥'
- Discussing first aid: 'Always carry a first aid kit 🏥'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Widely recognized as a symbol for medical care, hospitals, and emergencies. Sometimes associated with the Red Cross, though the Red Cross symbol is specific.
East Asian culture:
Similarly understood as a medical symbol. In some contexts, other colors or shapes might be used alongside it to denote specific medical fields or services.