😚

Kissing Face with Closed Eyes

KISS-ing fays with klohzd eyes
Unicode: 1F61A
Added: 0.6
Category: Smileys & Emotion
#55
Global Ranking
accessible
Accessibility
very common
Usage Level

Definitions

1
Emotional Β· Affection Very Common
Expresses romantic or intimate affection through a gentle kiss with eyes closed, conveying sweetness, tenderness, and loving emotions.
Used in romantic contexts, between close friends, or family members to show deep affection or appreciation.
Thanks for being so supportive during my exam week 😚
Text message between close friends
Miss you so much, can't wait to see you tomorrow 😚
Message between romantic partners
Happy birthday to my favorite sister 😚
Social media post
Closing eyes while kissing signifies trust and vulnerability, making this emoji more intimate than other kissing emojis.
2
Emotional Β· Gratitude Common
Conveys sincere gratitude or appreciation with a gentle, affectionate undertone, often used to express thanks in a warm, personal manner.
Appropriate for thanking close friends, family members, or romantic partners, but may be too intimate for professional settings.
Thanks for helping me move yesterday 😚 couldn't have done it without you!
Text message to close friend
Just got your gift in the mail 😚 you're the best!
Social media direct message
The closed eyes suggest sincerity and emotional investment, distinguishing it from more casual thank-you expressions.

Evolution Timeline

2010
Introduced in Unicode 6.0 as one of the original emoji set, initially with more romantic connotations.
Early smartphone adoption created demand for affectionate digital expressions.
2015
Usage expanded beyond romantic contexts to express general affection and gratitude among friends.
Emoji mainstreaming led to broader, less strictly romantic interpretations.
2018
Became popular in social media comments to express appreciation for content creators.
Rise of influencer culture and parasocial relationships on platforms like Instagram.
2021
Generational divide emerged with Gen Z using it more ironically or platonically than older users.
Younger users adopting more fluid emoji usage patterns with less fixed meanings.

Cultural Context

The closed eyes element significantly changes the emotional tone from other kissing emojis, suggesting vulnerability, trust, and deeper emotional connection.
Older generations tend to reserve this emoji for romantic contexts, while younger users employ it more flexibly among platonic friends.
Usage patterns show gender differences in Western cultures, with women using it more freely among friends while men often restrict it to romantic relationships.
Functions as a softener in digital communication, reducing the potential for messages to be interpreted as cold or demanding.
Commonwealth English speakers (UK, Australia, New Zealand) use this emoji more broadly in platonic contexts than American English speakers.

Regional Variations

Australia Used casually among friends and family, often with less romantic connotation than in the US.
United Kingdom Used more broadly among friends regardless of gender, especially among younger generations.
United States Commonly used between romantic partners and close female friends. Less common among male friends due to homophobic stigma.

Generational Usage

Gen_X: Typically reserved for romantic partners or very close family members. Less frequently used overall than by younger generations.
Gen_Z: Used both sincerely and ironically among friends regardless of gender. Often appears in comments to content creators they admire.
Older: Limited usage, primarily with family members. Often misinterpreted as simply happy or smiling rather than specifically kissing.
Millennials: Primarily used in close relationships and romantic contexts. Common in thank-you messages to show warmth and appreciation.

Common Combinations

😚❀️
Romantic affection or love, emphasizing the intimate nature of the relationship.
Universally understood as expressing romantic love, commonly used between partners.
😚✨
Affectionate appreciation with a touch of excitement or specialness.
Popular among younger users to express gratitude with a sense of warmth.
😚😚
Extra affection or emphasis on the sentiment, showing heightened fondness.
Repetition intensifies the emotional content, common in close relationships.
πŸ˜šπŸ™
Grateful affection, expressing heartfelt thanks with personal warmth.
Combines gratitude with intimacy, suitable for close relationships.
πŸ˜šπŸ’•
Affectionate love that may be romantic or platonic depending on context.
Softer than the heart emoji combination, often used between close friends.

Related Emojis

πŸ˜™ Similar kissing face but with open eyes, conveying less intimacy. 😘 Kissing face with heart, more playful and flirtatious than the tender 😚. πŸ₯° Shares the warm affection theme but expresses it through smiling with hearts. ❀️ Often used in combination to emphasize romantic affection. ☺️ Shares the closed eyes element but expresses general contentment rather than affection.