hand on face emoji
A man frowning with light skin tone, using the hand on face emoji to show shame or embarrassment, covering his mouth and nose with hands looking downwards.
There are different emoji meanings for hand on face emoji in different cultures:
- Western culture
- Commonly used to express embarrassment or a sense of 'facepalm' without actually doing a facepalm. Often accompanies a self-deprecating comment or an admission of a mistake.
- East Asian culture
- Can emphasize a sense of 'losing face' or intense shame, especially when acknowledging a blunder or failure in a social context. Also used for playful self-mockery.
