🙈 Meaning: See-No-Evil Monkey

The little monkey catches the eye at first glance with its playful yet expressive pose. Here we see the head of a monkey whose facial features are in warm brown tones.

The monkey has an oval face and a border in a darker shade of brown, reminiscent of soft fur. The color is continued on the round, slightly outward-pointing ears, which appear to be listening attentively.

However, the central element of this emoji is the monkey's hands. The hands are placed over the eyes so that the eyes cannot be seen. This is why the monkey is also called the "see-no-evil monkey". The hands are a lighter shade of brown and look like those of a human with four fingers and a thumb.

Although the monkey's eyes are covered by its hands, the rest of its face is clearly visible. Sometimes the emoji also has a small nose and in all representations a gently smiling mouth, which makes it appear friendlier.

The "See-No-Evil Monkey" emoji is very detailed and loving overall. The different shades of brown and simple lines to depict the facial features make for a beautiful overall impression. However, it is important to note that the exact rendering of this emoji may vary depending on the platform and device, which may result in slight differences in appearance.

The monkey that doesn't want to see anything - also known as the "See-No-Evil Monkey" or "monkey eyes closed" - is one of the famous "three wise monkeys" that originated in Japan. These three monkeys are deeply rooted in Japanese culture and stand for the proverbs "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". This little monkey stands for the principle of "see no evil". As you can imagine from the closed eyes, it is traditionally referred to as "Mizaru". In Japanese, this simply means "do not see". This symbolizes the act of hiding one's eyes from evil. You can also simply call this colleague a "mizaru monkey".

In the West, the monkey usually has a humorous meaning. For example, people say: "I don't want to see this" or "I'm embarrassed" when someone closes their eyes to embarrassing situations or mistakes. However, this interpretation is quite different from the original, more serious meaning in the Japanese tradition. In some Asian cultures, the emoji can also be interpreted as a sign of respect or modesty. This shows that cultural contexts can strongly influence the interpretation of this emoji.

It is also interesting to note that different age groups use this emoji differently. Younger people often use the cute little monkey on social media to show that they feel a little embarrassed or ashamed. At work, the emoji is rarely used because it might be too informal. There are also differences in how this emoji is displayed on different platforms. This can lead to misunderstandings. On some platforms, for example Apple or Google, it looks cute and detailed. On other platforms, it is less detailed and therefore more difficult to recognize.

The emoji 🙈 was added to the Unicode standard in 2010 and has been used very frequently ever since. It not only expresses emotions and moods, but also shows how symbols from different cultures can be integrated into global digital communication. The "See-No-Evil Monkey" is a real all-rounder and has therefore taken on a special position in the emoji world. It is a popular symbol for humorous, embarrassing and respectful moments.

Embarrassing slip of the tongue:
Janna: Said "I love you through the process" instead of "I'm guiding you through the process" to my boss in the meeting today! 🙈
Tom: Unpleasant! How did he react?
Janna: Laughed and said that love is always welcome at work.

Wrong message sent:
Thorben: Accidentally sent our party picture from the disco to the company WhatsApp group instead of our group. 🙈
Lara: You fish! How did they react?
Thorben: Silence. Absolute silence. And then a "Very professional" from the boss.

Mix-up when getting dressed:
Emma: Went to uni today wearing two different shoes. 🙈
Noah: Can only happen to you. How is something like that even possible?

Forgotten microphone:
Luis: I forgot to mute my mic in the online lecture today and everyone heard me singing for over 10 minutes. 🙈
Anna: So, did you win the audition?

Compared to other emojis used in similar contexts, our monkey has a clear playful aspect, which sets it apart from other emojis of embarrassment. Visually, of course, the emoji is confusingly similar to its brethren; it tends to compete with other emojis in terms of meaning.

One emoji that is used in similar contexts is the 😳 emoji with wide open eyes and red cheeks. This emoji tends to express how you feel when you are surprised or caught out. Another emoji that is at least similar in content is the 😅 emoji, which is depicted with a drop of sweat. It stands for embarrassing situations or small mishaps and has a similar playful touch to our monkey, only it's not a monkey.

And then there's the 😬 emoji, which stands for gritted-teeth embarrassment. Although the 😬 emoji is also used in embarrassing situations, it has a more serious connotation than the 🙈 emoji. The 😬 emoji tends to express awkward embarrassment, while the "See-No-Evil Monkey" is a humorous way of escaping an awkward situation.

Another emoji that could be confused with the "See-No-Evil Monkey" is the 😆 emoji. The laughing emoji with squinted eyes can have a similar effect in some situations because it is also a playful and humorous reaction to embarrassing or funny situations. However, the 😆 emoji tends to express joy and laughter, while the 🙈 emoji specifically symbolizes the covering of the eyes.

The 🙈 emoji is of course also related to its siblings: the "Hear-No-Evil Monkey" 🙉, which stands for "not wanting to hear", and the "Speak-No-Evil Monkey" 🙊, which represents "not wanting to say". Pay close attention to the monkeys' hands!

The "See-No-Evil Monkey" is a unique emoji that plays a special role in modern communication due to its cultural roots and versatile application. Whether as humorous evasion or deliberate ignorance, this monkey is a popular symbol in the emoji world.

What do our editors think about this emoji?

We think the See-No-Evil Monkey is the feel-good emoji par excellence. Why? Because it simply blocks out the drama of everyday life. It's the colleague you send when your BFF sends you screenshots of her text messages with her ex for the 100th time. "Oh no, please not again", the monkey thinks to himself and we think along with him.

But wait, the monkey also has a deep side. He is the Mizaru monkey from the famous trio of "see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil" monkeys. The little guy originally comes from Japan, the land of anime and manga. He has a cultural journey behind him and shows us that some things are universal - for example, the tactic of simply turning a blind eye and hoping that the problem will go away by itself.

He's always on hand when a situation is embarrassing, awkward or just "I-can't-believe-this-just-happened". And although he looks a little different on every platform, his message remains the same: "If I can't see it, it's not there, is it?"

Our editorial team, made up of digital natives and emoji fans, uses the 🙈 to express a mixture of embarrassment, denial and sometimes pure despair. It is the ideal companion for all situations in life in which you would prefer to make yourself invisible. So the next time you're in a group chat and someone tells a story that makes you want to sink into the ground, just send the 🙈 and everyone will know.