What is a kaomoji?
A kaomoji (顔文字) is a little face built from letters and symbols. (^_^) is a smile; (´；ω；`) is about to cry. They tuck in the feeling that plain words can't quite carry. Here's a gentle intro to what kaomoji are, where they came from, and how they differ from emoji.
In one line: a kaomoji is a face made of text symbols. Unlike an emoji (😊) — a single picture-character — a kaomoji is a string of characters, so it looks the same almost anywhere, and you can freely edit and combine them.
What is a kaomoji?
A kaomoji lines up brackets, symbols and letters into a face. They're usually read upright: eyes like ^ ^ or ･, a mouth like ▽ or ω. Happy looks like (*^▽^*), a little troubled like (´･ω･`) — one short string carries a whole mood.
The nicest part: you don't need any special app. If you can type, you can use them. Add one to the end of a message and the same words feel softer — "thanks" versus "thanks (*´ω`*)". The second one feels a touch warmer, doesn't it?
Kaomoji, emoji and ASCII art
Kaomoji have two close cousins — emoji and ASCII art. All three paint feelings with text, but they're built a little differently.
- Kaomoji — symbols and letters arranged into a face. They copy as plain text and show up the same almost everywhere.
- Emoji — single picture-characters like 😊 or 🐱. Colorful and eye-catching, but they render a little differently from device to device.
- ASCII art — many characters across many lines, forming a big picture or character. Think of it as a kaomoji grown large.
Because they have different strengths, kaomoji and emoji pair beautifully — a face dressed up with sparkles like ✨(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ✨. Want the full breakdown? See Kaomoji vs Emoji.
A little history
Text faces go back to 1980s computer messaging. In the West, people read sideways smileys like :-); in Japan, the upright (^_^) took hold — no head-tilt required. As mobile phones and smartphones spread, the style blossomed into thousands of variations.
Today there's a kaomoji for every feeling — laughing (*´艸`*), crying (╥﹏╥), shy (*ノωノ), startled Σ(ﾟДﾟ). For the everyday classics, browse cute kaomoji to start.
Browse by category
At Kaomojikan we sort kaomoji by feeling and theme. Peek into whichever one fits your mood and find a favorite.
Looking for more? Start from the home page to browse every category.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kaomoji, in one line?
A face made from letters and symbols, like (^_^) — a way to add the feeling that plain words can't quite carry.
How are kaomoji and emoji different?
Kaomoji are combinations of symbols; emoji are single picture-characters like 😊. More in Kaomoji vs Emoji.
How do I copy a kaomoji?
At Kaomojikan, just tap the kaomoji to copy it. Step-by-step for phone and computer is in How to copy & paste.