😂 Meaning: Face with Tears of Joy

The emoji 😂, also known as "Face with Tears of Joy", shows a human-like face shedding tears of laughter. The emoji's eyes are closed and curved upwards like a swallow, symbolizing the eyelids. The two corners of the eyes are filled with two small tears that look like drops of water. This gives the emoji its characteristic expression of uncontrolled laughter.

You can see a wide-open mouth in which the upper part of the emoji's teeth can be seen. The mouth is designed as a semicircle, which emphasizes the cheerfulness of the emoji.

The emoji has a round face, like most emojis that show emotion. The tears of laughter are in a clear blue that stands out clearly against the yellow background and draws attention to the expression of laughter.

The illustration may look slightly different depending on the platform, but the basic features of the laughing face and tears of joy remain the same.

This emoji has no particular cultural origin. A face with tears streaming from the eyes represents the moment when we can hardly breathe for laughter. This is a universal human experience that is the same across language barriers. We know of no culture in which people do not laugh.

Nevertheless, even with this emoji you can't always rely on it being used and interpreted in the same way everywhere in the world. In Western countries, it is often used to react to something funny or ironic. It is therefore an expression of pure joy and is often used in social media or chats to emphasize a humorous mood. Sometimes, however, it could also be interpreted as a sign of schadenfreude or sarcasm. This shows that even such a widespread emoji can have very different meanings.

It is interesting to note that the 😂 emoji is popular in different age groups. Younger users use a wider range of emojis to express different emotions and reactions. Older generations prefer to stick with the "Face with Tears of Joy" because it conveys a clear and unambiguous message. One wonders whether some people even know any other emojis. Sometimes it is therefore considered outdated or "cringe", which is why it is increasingly being replaced by newer emojis in the younger generation.

The emoji can also be interpreted very differently in different countries and regions. In some Asian countries, for example Japan, the 😂 emoji can also represent a form of modesty or embarrassed laughter in addition to expressing joy. This shows how cultural differences can influence the interpretation of an emoji that seems universally understandable at first glance.

The emoji was added to the Unicode standard in 2010 and has since made it much easier and more natural for us to communicate joy and laughter in text form.

Embarrassing moment in the office:
Jan: I just tipped my chair backwards trying to reach the window. I thought my life was over. 😂

Family chat:
Ela: Your dad tried to bathe the cat.Now he looks like he's been fighting with a cactus. 😂

Message to a friend:
Tom: Remember that weird guy from the club yesterday? I'm coming to class today and it's my professor! 😂

Girls' night out:
Lena: I just tried to do my makeup like the one from Insta and now I look like an under-rested panda. 😂

The 😅 emoji is not the only emoji that expresses cheerfulness and pleasure.
A similar emoji is the grinning face with narrowed eyes 😆. It stands for a similar kind of amusement, but less intense. While 😂 represents the uncontrollability of a fit of laughter (ROFL - for the older generation), a broad, satisfied grin without tears is often used as a reaction to a good joke or a funny situation. It is also suitable in more formal settings.

Another emoji that is close to our laughing with joy emoji is the wide grinning face emoji 😁. It expresses general joy and enthusiasm that is less focused on humor and more on general well-being. It's just perfect for sharing positive energy and a beaming smile or showing that you're proud of something.

Sometimes the crying with joy emoji can be confused with the really sad emoji 😭, as both show tears. But while 😂 stands for joy, 😭 means sadness and sorrow. So pay close attention to which emojis you use so that the message comes across correctly.

The 😂 emoji could also be confused with the 😊 emoji, which shows a rather shy smile. This emoji is somewhat more subtle and is often used to express friendliness or gratitude. However, there is little risk of confusion, as this emoji also has no tears. It's not as energetic as the 😂 emoji, but perfect for those moments when a simple smile is enough to lift the mood.

The risk of confusion with this emoji is really low. Just check whether it's tears of joy or sadness. That's all you need to pay attention to.

How our editors rate this emoji:

The 😅 emoji is the Chuck Norris of emojis, so to speak - it adds zest to any conversation! It's the universal sign that someone is laughing so hard that they have tears in their eyes. Whether you're 13 or 63, this emoji is like a good pair of jeans: it usually fits...

Your colleague sends you a slightly raunchy meme during class and bam, there it is: the 😂 emoji to show that you don't find the joke funny but are laughing anyway.

But before you think the emoji is just a digital laughing fit, let's take a closer look. In an earlier phase, it was one of the most used emoji worldwide, around 2015. It's like a song that everyone can sing along to, even if it's been on the radio a thousand times. And just like a catchy tune, there are people who think that the 😂 emoji is simply used too often. But let's be honest: a classic is still a classic, right?

For older users, this could be a good alternative to their previous favorite "ROFL", which incidentally stands for "Rolling on the Floor Laughing". Many young people probably don't even know the term anymore, but it used to be the ultimate way to describe digital laughter. The 😂 emoji is now taking on this role and connecting the generations, so to speak. #connecting

The 😂 emoji can express irony, emphasize sarcasm or just pure joy. It's like a good friend who is always there when you need them - to save you from an embarrassing situation or to show that you like the other person's sense of humor.

The 😂 emoji is and will remain a loyal companion in the world of digital communication. It's the salt in the soup, the fireworks in the emoji sky - and we in the editorial team? We love it, even if we sometimes pretend we're over it 😉