What is a kaomoji generator?
A kaomoji generator builds Japanese-style text faces such as ʕ^ᴥ^ʔノ ♡ from interchangeable parts: a frame, eyes, a mouth, cheeks, arms and a decoration. This free tool lets you pick each part, lock the ones you like, press Surprise me for new combinations, then copy the result as plain text. It has 36 starter faces, a Text editor, a Combo editor for joining up to 20 items, and saved faces that stay in your browser. There is no signup and no AI.
Kaomoji (顔文字) is the Japanese word for “face characters”. Unlike Western emoticons such as :-), kaomoji are read upright and are built from a wide range of letters and symbols, which is what makes them so expressive. A generator takes the guesswork out of that: instead of hunting for the right symbols, you choose a look and the tool assembles the characters in the correct order.
Because the result is plain text, it works almost anywhere you can type. Use this page when you want a face that is slightly different from the ones everyone else copies, or when you want to match a specific mood. If you would rather browse a ready-made collection, the Kaomoji Copy and Paste page has hundreds to choose from.
How to make a kaomoji, step by step
- Pick a starter or start from the default face. Choose one of the 36 starter faces to begin close to the mood you want, or keep the default smile and change it piece by piece.
- Choose a frame. Set the outline: round, roomy, bear, dog, bunny, cat, square or none. The frame sets the character of the whole face.
- Choose eyes, mouth and cheeks. Pick the eyes and mouth that carry the emotion, then add cheeks such as blush marks if you want a softer, shyer look.
- Add arms and a decoration. Give the face arms to wave, hug, cheer or shrug, then add a heart, sparkle, note or star at the end.
- Lock what you like and press Surprise me. Lock any group you want to keep and press Surprise me to randomize the groups that are still unlocked. Use Undo if you prefer the previous face.
- Preview, then copy. Check the plain, chat and bio previews, then press Copy. Paste it into your caption, bio, comment or message with Ctrl+V or Command+V.
Worked example: a waving bear with a heart
To build ʕ^ᴥ^ʔノ ♡, choose the Bear frame, the Happy eyes, the Snout mouth, leave cheeks off, pick the Wave arms and add the Heart decoration. The bear’s ears and snout come from the frame and mouth, the closed-smile eyes give it a cheerful look, the wave adds a hand on the right side, and the heart finishes the greeting.
The six part groups explained
Every face is a stack of six groups. Understanding what each one controls makes it much easier to get the exact expression you want.
Frame
The frame is the outline of the face. A round frame is the classic look, while bear, dog, bunny and cat frames add ears or whiskers, and the square frame gives a boxy, robot-like feel.
| Frame | Looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Round | (•ᴗ•) | Standard round face |
| Roomy | ( •ᴗ• ) | Round with extra space inside |
| Bear | ʕ•ᴗ•ʔ | Bear ears and snout shape |
| Dog | U•ᴗ•U | Floppy dog ears |
| Bunny | ૮ •ᴗ• ა | Bunny ears and feet |
| Cat | (=•ᴗ•=) | Cat whiskers |
| Square | [•ᴗ•] | Boxy, robot-like look |
| None | •ᴗ• | No outline |
Eyes
Eyes carry most of the emotion. Turn on Adjust sides to give the left and right eyes different looks, for example to make a wink.
| Eyes | Pair | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| Dots | • • | Friendly and neutral |
| Happy | ^ ^ | Joyful or laughing |
| Closed | ˘ ˘ | Calm, content or sleepy |
| Flat | - - | Tired or deadpan |
| Star | ★ ★ | Amazed or starstruck |
| Round | O O | Wide open and startled |
| Tiny | ･ ･ | Small, quiet and shy |
| Sparkle | ✧ ✧ | Hopeful and shiny |
| Heart | ♥ ♥ | In love |
| Tears | T T | Crying |
| Sad | ಥ ಥ | Teary and hurt |
| Stare | ಠ ಠ | Disapproving look |
| Big | ◕ ◕ | Wide, cute eyes |
| Excited | ≧ ≦ | Thrilled, eyes squeezed shut |
| Squint | > < | Squinting or embarrassed |
| Wide | ° ° | Surprised |
| Dizzy | @ @ | Confused or woozy |
| Angry | ò ó | Annoyed or cross |
| Cheerful | ᵔ ᵔ | Pleased, soft smile eyes |
| Shocked | ⊙ ⊙ | Stunned |
Mouth
The mouth confirms or changes what the eyes say. The same eyes with a different mouth can turn a smile into a smirk or a frown.
| Mouth | Symbol | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| Smile | ᴗ | Gentle smile |
| Cat | ω | Playful cat mouth |
| Flat | _ | Neutral or unimpressed |
| Open | ▽ | Open and cheerful |
| Wavy | ﹏ | Upset or nervous |
| Kiss | з | Blowing a kiss |
| Oh | o | Surprised |
| Snout | ᴥ | Animal snout |
| Grin | ∀ | Big grin |
| Frown | ︿ | Frowning |
| Shout | д | Shouting or shocked |
| Sly | ‿ | Mischievous smile |
| Tongue | ε | Playful pout |
| Line | ー | Straight, calm |
| Tiny | ‸ | Small and awkward |
Cheeks
Cheek marks sit just inside the frame on both sides. They are the quickest way to make a face look shy, sweet or flushed.
| Cheeks | Looks like | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| None | (•ᴗ•) | Clean face |
| Dots | (｡•ᴗ•｡) | Soft, cute face |
| Blush | (//•ᴗ•//) | Blushing or flustered |
| Soft | (˶•ᴗ•˶) | Gentle blush |
| Stars | (*•ᴗ•*) | Sparkling cheeks |
| Flowers | (✿•ᴗ•✿) | Sweet and floral |
| Sparkles | (☆•ᴗ•☆) | Glittery |
| Pink | (〃•ᴗ•〃) | Flushed |
Arms
Arms sit outside the frame. Some arm styles only exist on one side, like the wave and the pointing hand, which is why they look natural without a matching partner. Use Adjust sides to mix a different left and right arm.
| Arms | Looks like | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| None | (•ᴗ•) | No arms |
| Hug | ⊂(•ᴗ•)⊃ | Open arms for a hug |
| Cheer | ヽ(•ᴗ•)ﾉ | Hands up, celebrating |
| Wave | (•ᴗ•)ノ | Waving hello |
| Fight | ง(•ᴗ•)ง | Determined, ready to go |
| Flex | ᕦ(•ᴗ•)ᕤ | Feeling strong |
| Hold | づ(•ᴗ•)づ | Holding out hands |
| Thumbs | d(•ᴗ•)b | Thumbs up |
| Dance | ┏(•ᴗ•)┛ | Dancing |
| Shrug | ┐(•ᴗ•)┌ | Shrugging |
| Point | ☞(•ᴗ•) | Pointing |
| Raise | ＼(•ᴗ•)／ | Arms raised |
Decorations
Decorations are the finishing touch: a small symbol or sparkle trail at the edge of the whole face.
| Decoration | Added to a face | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| None | (•ᴗ•) | Nothing added |
| Heart | (•ᴗ•) ♡ | A little love |
| Sparkle | (•ᴗ•) ✧ | Shine |
| Note | (•ᴗ•) ♪ | Singing or upbeat |
| Star | (•ᴗ•) ★ | Bright |
| Flower | (•ᴗ•) ✿ | Sweet |
| Hearts | ♡ (•ᴗ•) ♡ | Heart on both sides |
| Stars | ☆ (•ᴗ•) ☆ | Stars on both sides |
| Glitter | ✧･ﾟ: * (•ᴗ•) * :･ﾟ✧ | Glittery frame |
| Zzz | (•ᴗ•) zzZ | Sleeping |
| Bang | (•ᴗ•) !! | Excited or alarmed |
| Dots | (•ᴗ•)... | Trailing off |
Locks and Surprise me
Each group has a lock icon. A locked group is skipped when you press Surprise me, so you can freeze the parts you like and let the tool explore the rest.
- Lock the frame to keep your signature outline and discover new expressions inside it.
- Lock the eyes to test different mouths and decorations on the same look.
- Lock everything except arms to find a gesture that suits a face you already love.
Surprise me draws from combinations used by the 36 starter faces, so the results stay balanced rather than becoming random symbol noise. If every group is locked, the button reminds you to unlock one. Use Undo and Redo to move between faces, or Reset to return to the default.
Edit as text for full control
The Face builder has two views: Parts and Text. Parts is best for exploring, while Text lets you finish the job by hand. Switching to Text starts from the face you just built, so you can add a word, remove a character, swap one symbol or paste a kaomoji from somewhere else. Your text is checked as you type: control characters are rejected, and the 300-character and 5-line limits are enforced before you can copy or save.
The Combo editor
A combo is a short sequence of items, each of which can be a face, a symbol or your own text. It is ideal for sign-offs, banners and little scenes.
- Add the current face or a blank item, then edit it directly.
- Move up and down to reorder, or remove an item you no longer need.
- Between items choose a space, nothing at all, or a new line.
- Symbols such as ♡, ✧, ♪ and ｡･ﾟ♡ can be added in one click to build sparkle trails.
A combo holds up to 20 items, and the same character and line limits apply to the combined result.
Copy, Save and Copy link
| Button | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Puts the text on your clipboard right now and adds it to Recent. | Pasting straight into an app. |
| Save | Keeps the text in a list in this browser. Saved items can be copied, edited, removed or exported as a JSON file. | Favourites you reuse. |
| Copy link | Creates a web address that rebuilds your exact face or combo when opened. | Sharing a design with a friend or teammate. |
Saved and recent lists live in your browser’s local storage on this device only. They are not sent to MyMidlist, and clearing site data removes them, so export your saved list if it matters to you.
36 starter kaomoji and how they are built
Each starter below is made only from the parts above, so you can see exactly how a mood is put together and recreate or tweak it in the builder.
| Starter | Kaomoji | Parts |
|---|---|---|
| Happy cat | (=•ω•=) | Cat frame, dots eyes, cat mouth |
| Little bear | ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ | Bear frame, dots eyes, snout mouth |
| Puppy | U•ᴥ•U | Dog frame, dots eyes, snout mouth |
| Bunny | ૮ ᵔᴗᵔ ა | Bunny frame, cheerful eyes, smile mouth |
| Sweet smile | (｡•ᴗ•｡) | Round frame, dots eyes, smile mouth, dots cheeks |
| Big grin | (^∀^) | Round frame, happy eyes, grin mouth |
| Sparkle eyes | (✧ᴗ✧) | Round frame, sparkle eyes, smile mouth |
| Blushing | (//˘ᴗ˘//) | Round frame, closed eyes, smile mouth, blush cheeks |
| Sleepy | (˘_˘) zzZ | Round frame, closed eyes, flat mouth, zzz decoration |
| Crying | (T﹏T) | Round frame, tears eyes, wavy mouth |
| Sad | (ಥ﹏ಥ) | Round frame, sad eyes, wavy mouth |
| Angry | (ò︿ó) | Round frame, angry eyes, frown mouth |
| Shocked | (⊙o⊙) | Round frame, shocked eyes, oh mouth |
| Surprised | (°o°) | Round frame, wide eyes, oh mouth |
| Cool stare | (ಠ_ಠ) | Round frame, stare eyes, flat mouth |
| Wink | (•‿-) | Round frame, dots and flat eyes, sly mouth |
| In love | (♥ᴗ♥) | Round frame, heart eyes, smile mouth |
| Excited | (≧∀≦) | Round frame, excited eyes, grin mouth |
| Hugging | ⊂(｡•ᴗ•｡)⊃ | Round frame, dots eyes, smile mouth, dots cheeks, hug arms |
| Cheering | ヽ(^∀^)ﾉ | Round frame, happy eyes, grin mouth, cheer arms |
| Waving | (•ᴗ•)ノ | Round frame, dots eyes, smile mouth, wave arms |
| Fighting spirit | ง(•ᴗ•)ง | Round frame, dots eyes, smile mouth, fight arms |
| Thumbs up | d(^ᴗ^)b | Round frame, happy eyes, smile mouth, thumbs arms |
| Flexing | ᕦ(•∀•)ᕤ | Round frame, dots eyes, grin mouth, flex arms |
| Shrug | ┐(•_•)┌ | Round frame, dots eyes, flat mouth, shrug arms |
| Kiss | (//˘з˘//) | Round frame, closed eyes, kiss mouth, blush cheeks |
| Playful tongue | (^ε^) | Round frame, happy eyes, tongue mouth |
| Deadpan | (•_•) | Round frame, dots eyes, flat mouth |
| Tiny smile | (･ᴗ･) | Round frame, tiny eyes, smile mouth |
| Shy | (//>ᴗ<//) | Round frame, squint eyes, smile mouth, blush cheeks |
| Dizzy | (@﹏@) | Round frame, dizzy eyes, wavy mouth |
| Star glitter | ✧･ﾟ: * (★ᴗ★) * :･ﾟ✧ | Round frame, star eyes, smile mouth, glitter decoration |
| Flower cheeks | (✿•ᴗ•✿) | Round frame, dots eyes, smile mouth, flowers cheeks |
| Cat with heart | (=^ω^=) ♡ | Cat frame, happy eyes, cat mouth, heart decoration |
| Bear hug | ⊂ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ⊃ | Bear frame, dots eyes, snout mouth, hug arms |
| Dancing | ┏(^∀^)┛ | Round frame, happy eyes, grin mouth, dance arms |
Kaomoji symbol glossary
Most kaomoji borrow characters from other writing systems and give them a new job. This table explains the ones used most often by the generator.
| Symbol | Name or use | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| ʕ ʔ | Bear frame brackets | Frame, with ᴥ as the snout |
| ᴗ | Smile curve | Mouth |
| ω | Cat mouth | Mouth, usually with cat or bunny frames |
| ▽ | Open mouth | Mouth |
| ﹏ | Wavy mouth | Mouth, for worry or sadness |
| ಥ | Teary eye | Eyes, for hurt or tearful faces |
| ◕ | Big eye | Eyes, for cute or wide-eyed looks |
| ≧ ≦ | Squeezed-shut pair | Eyes, for excitement |
| // | Blush marks | Cheeks |
| ｡ | Soft dot | Cheeks and sparkle trails |
| ⊂ ⊃ | Hug arms | Arms |
| ヽ ﾉ | Raised hands | Arms, for celebration |
| ノ | Waving hand | Arms, usually on the right |
| ᕦ ᕤ | Flexed arms | Arms, for strength |
| ┐ ┌ | Shrug | Arms, for “I don’t know” |
| ♡ ✧ ♪ ★ | Decoration symbols | End of the face |
Where you can use your kaomoji
Because kaomoji are plain text, they usually work wherever you can type. Looks can vary slightly by device and font.
| Where | Usually works in | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat | Bios, captions, comments, stories | Usernames and handles usually accept normal characters only. |
| WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Messenger | Messages, statuses, server nicknames | Very wide faces may wrap onto a second line on small screens. |
| X, Facebook, LinkedIn | Posts, comments, about sections | Keep faces out of names, headlines and job titles. |
| YouTube | Comments, descriptions, community posts | Avoid decorations in video titles that need to read cleanly. |
| Email and SMS | Casual messages | Some older systems drop rare symbols, so keep it simple. |
| Gaming profiles and chat | Display names where allowed, chat messages | Many games filter symbols in names; test before you commit. |
Ideas for using a kaomoji generator
Social media bios and captions
Add personality to a short bio or end a caption with a face that sets the tone. Keep the face on its own line if your bio is tight on space.
Chat apps and community servers
Use a quick wave, hug or shrug to soften a message in WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord, where tone is easy to misread.
Comments and replies
A small face makes a reply friendlier without needing a long sentence.
Gaming and streaming
Create a signature face for your chat messages, panels or stream titles where symbols are permitted.
Small business updates
Use a light touch in a promotional caption, a WhatsApp Business greeting or a thank-you note to customers, then keep the practical details in plain words.
Creative writing and art
Use faces as expressive sprites in text-based stories, comics, game dialogue and fan communities.
Kaomoji vs emoji vs emoticons
| Kaomoji | Emoji | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Text characters and symbols | Small pictures built into a device |
| Example | ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ | 🐻 |
| Looks the same everywhere? | Mostly, if the symbols are supported | No, each platform draws its own version |
| Can you edit it? | Yes, it is plain text | No, it is a single character |
| Size and detail | Can be wide, tall or multi-line | One small picture |
| Read upright or sideways? | Upright (Japanese style) | Not applicable |
| Western emoticon cousin | :-) | - |
In short, emoji are pictures, Western emoticons are short sideways faces, and kaomoji are upright text faces with far more room for detail. All three can be used together, and a kaomoji is often the better choice when you want something a little more personal than a standard emoji.
Tips for better kaomoji
- Match the mood to the message. Pick eyes and a mouth that agree with your words. A smiling face after sad news reads as sarcasm.
- Use one face per thought. A single well-chosen face at the end of a sentence works better than a string of them.
- Lock the frame, vary the rest. Keep one frame as your signature look, then use Surprise me to explore new expressions.
- Test where it will live. Paste into the real app or profile field before posting. Fonts differ between devices.
- Keep important information in words. Prices, names, dates and contact details should always stay in plain text.
- Save your favourites. Use Save for the faces you reuse, and export the list occasionally as a backup.
Kaomoji for small businesses and creators
A small face can make a brand feel approachable, especially in regions and audiences where chat apps are the main way customers get in touch. Use them in moderation: one face in a greeting, a caption or a thank-you message is plenty. Keep your company name, offers, prices, opening hours and contact details in ordinary words so they remain readable, searchable and accessible to everyone. If you run a business in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan or Turkey, you can also give it a free verified profile on MyMidlist so new customers can find you.
Limits and how the tool works
| Setting | Limit | Why it exists |
|---|---|---|
| Visible characters | 300 per kaomoji or combo | Keeps the result short enough for bios, captions and chat lines. |
| Lines | 5 lines | Multi-line art is possible, but stays readable in a preview. |
| Combo items | 20 items | Enough to build a full sign-off or banner without it becoming unwieldy. |
| Starter faces | 36 | A quick way to begin near the mood you want. |
| Part groups | 6 | Frame, eyes, mouth, cheeks, arms and decorations. |
| Saved list | Your browser only | Nothing is uploaded; export to a JSON file for a backup. |
Everything runs locally in your browser. Nothing you build, copy or save is uploaded, and the tool needs no account. The generator is rule-based, with no AI involved, so the same choices always produce the same face.
Compatibility and accessibility
Some symbols are unavailable on older devices and fonts and may appear as empty boxes. If a face looks broken, try a different frame, eyes or decoration. Screen readers may read kaomoji symbol by symbol, which can be tiring, so use them as decoration rather than as the only way to express something. All controls on this page work with a keyboard, and the toggles announce their pressed state to assistive technology.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kaomoji generator?
A kaomoji generator is a tool that builds Japanese-style text faces from interchangeable parts, such as a frame, eyes, a mouth, cheeks, arms and a decoration. Instead of searching a long list, you assemble the face you want and copy it as plain text.
How do I make a kaomoji?
Open the Face builder, pick a starter or the default face, then choose a frame, eyes, mouth, cheeks, arms and a decoration. The preview updates as you click. When it looks right, press Copy and paste it into your message, bio or caption.
Is this kaomoji generator free?
Yes. It is completely free, needs no account and has no daily limit. It runs in your browser, so there is nothing to install.
Does the generator use AI?
No. Every face is put together from a fixed set of text parts that you choose, or that the Surprise me button picks at random from curated combinations. There is no AI model involved, which keeps results predictable and instant.
Can I type my own kaomoji?
Yes. Switch the Face builder to Text mode to edit the face as plain text, add words, or paste a kaomoji you found elsewhere. You can also add it to the Combo editor to join it with other faces and symbols.
What does Surprise me do?
Surprise me randomizes every part group that is not locked, using combinations taken from the starter faces so the result still looks like a real kaomoji. Lock Frame, for example, and you will get new eyes, mouths and decorations inside the same outline.
What is the Combo editor?
The Combo editor lets you join up to 20 items, which can be faces, symbols or your own words, into one line or block. You can reorder items, edit them, remove them, and choose to join them with a space, nothing, or a new line.
What is the difference between Copy, Save and Copy link?
Copy puts the text on your clipboard so you can paste it now. Save keeps it in a list in this browser so you can come back to it later. Copy link creates a web address that rebuilds your exact face or combo for anyone who opens it.
Is my saved list private?
Yes. Saved and recent kaomoji are stored only in your own browser using local storage. They are not uploaded to MyMidlist. Clearing your browser data removes them, so use the export button to keep a backup file.
Why is there a limit of 300 characters and 5 lines?
The limits keep the preview readable and make sure what you copy is likely to paste cleanly into bios, captions and chat apps. If you go over, the tool tells you what to shorten before it lets you copy or save.
Where can I use the kaomoji I make?
Almost anywhere you can type text: Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, X, Facebook, YouTube comments and more. Some usernames and profile fields only accept letters and numbers, so test it where you plan to use it.
Why does a kaomoji sometimes show boxes or question marks?
Some symbols are missing from older devices and fonts. The generator uses widely supported characters, but if a face looks broken in one app, try a different frame, eyes or decoration, or update your device.
What is the difference between kaomoji and emoji?
Emoji are small pictures built into your device and drawn differently by each platform. Kaomoji are made of ordinary text characters, so they are flexible, can be larger and more expressive, and look much the same wherever the symbols are supported.
Can businesses use kaomoji?
Yes, sparingly. A small face can add warmth to a social caption or a WhatsApp Business greeting. Keep names, prices and contact details in plain text, and match the tone to your audience.
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