What are kaomoji?
Kaomoji are Japanese-style emoticons made from letters, numbers and symbols, like (^_^) or ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. They are read upright, not sideways like :-), and you can copy and paste them into bios, captions, comments and chats. This page has 356 kaomoji sorted by mood, with search and one-tap copy.
How to copy and paste kaomoji
- Search or browse. Type a mood or word like happy, cat or cry, or scroll through the categories.
- Tap a kaomoji. Tap any kaomoji to copy it to your clipboard. Switch to Add to mix to collect several first.
- Paste it. Paste it into your bio, caption, comment or chat.
- Mix your own. Combine kaomoji and text in the mix box, then copy the whole line in one go.
Kaomoji vs emoji
| Kaomoji | Emoji | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Text characters and symbols | Small pictures built into your device |
| Example | (≧◡≦) | 😊 |
| Looks the same everywhere? | Mostly, if the symbols are supported | No, each platform draws its own |
| Can be long and detailed? | Yes | No, one small picture |
Where you can use kaomoji
Because kaomoji are plain text, they usually work wherever you can type. Looks can vary by device and font.
| Where | Usually works in | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat | Bios, captions and comments | Usernames often allow normal characters only |
| WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord | Messages and statuses | Very wide kaomoji may wrap onto two lines |
| X, Facebook, LinkedIn | Posts and profile text | Keep them out of names and headlines |
| YouTube | Comments and descriptions | Avoid them in video titles |
Good to know
Some kaomoji use rare symbols that older devices and fonts do not support, and may show as boxes. Screen readers may read the symbols one by one, so keep important information in normal words. Business names, prices and contact details should stay in plain text.
Frequently asked questions
What are kaomoji?
Kaomoji are Japanese-style emoticons made from letters, numbers and symbols, such as (^_^) or ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. The word comes from the Japanese words for face and character, and they are read upright rather than sideways like :-).
How do I copy and paste a kaomoji?
Tap or click the kaomoji and it is copied to your clipboard. Then paste it where you want it using Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac, or press and hold in a text field on a phone.
What is the difference between kaomoji and emoji?
Emoji are small pictures built into your device, while kaomoji are made from ordinary text characters. Because kaomoji are text, they can look the same in more places and can be longer and more expressive.
Where can I use kaomoji?
Usually anywhere you can type text, including social media bios, captions, comments, chats and messages. Some usernames and handles allow only normal letters and numbers, so kaomoji may be rejected there.
Why do some kaomoji show as boxes or question marks?
Some kaomoji use rare symbols that older devices or fonts do not have. If a face looks broken, try another one, update your device, or test it in the app before you post.
Is there a built-in kaomoji picker on Windows?
Yes. On Windows 10 and 11, press the Windows key and the period key to open the emoji panel, which includes a kaomoji section.
Can I make my own kaomoji?
Yes. Use the mix box on this page to combine kaomoji, symbols and text, and copy the result. Try adding sparkles or hearts around a face.
Is this kaomoji collection free and private?
Yes. It is free with no signup and no limit. Copying happens in your browser, and nothing you copy or type is stored.
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