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Emoticons & Japanese Kaomoji: Copy Paste, Discord Tips & Meanings (2026)

Complete guide to text emoticons and Japanese kaomoji. Learn how to stop Discord from converting emoticons, how to get kaomoji on iPhone, and copy cute, shrug, and Lenny faces.

What Are Emoticons and Japanese Kaomoji?

In digital communication, text emoticons are facial expressions crafted purely from typographic characters, punctuation, and ASCII symbols. Unlike graphic emojis that display as full-color pictorial symbols (such as 😀 or ❤️), emoticons are read as raw text characters.

Originating in Japan in 1986 on ASCII NET, Japanese Kaomoji (顔文字) took text faces to an entirely new dimension. While Western emoticons are typically read sideways (like :-) or :D), Japanese kaomoji are read horizontally without turning your head. Kaomoji utilize Japanese Katakana, Hiragana, Box Drawing characters, and mathematical operators to form expressive faces such as ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (Lenny Face), ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (Shrug), and (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ (Table Flip).

Most Popular Emoticon Categories in the USA

Millions of users search for specific emoticon aesthetics for their Discord servers, TikTok bios, Instagram captions, and gaming usernames:

  • Cute & Kawaii Emoticons: (◕‿◕✿), (｡♥‿♥｡), (づ￣ ³￣)づ — Express affection, warmth, and wholesome aesthetic vibes.
  • Shrug & Whatever Emoticons: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, ¯\(°_o)/¯ — The quintessential internet reaction for indifference, confusion, or doubt.
  • Lenny Faces: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°) — Iconic imageboard meme face signifying mischief or double entendre.
  • Cat & Animal Emoticons: ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ, (=^･ω･^=), ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ — Beloved text representations of cats, bears, and bunnies.
  • Star & Sparkle Emoticons: (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧, ★~(◠‿◕✿) — Perfect for aesthetic social media bios and Discord nicknames.
  • Look of Disapproval: ಠ_ಠ, (눈_눈) — Classic Reddit and forum response to cringe or disappointment.

How to Turn Off Emoticons Converting to Emojis on Discord

A frequent frustration for Discord users is when typing :-) or :D automatically turns into a yellow graphical emoji instead of preserving their intended text aesthetic. Here is the step-by-step fix:

  1. Open Discord on your PC, Mac, or web browser.
  2. Click the User Settings gear icon in the bottom-left corner next to your username.
  3. Under App Settings in the left sidebar, click Text & Images.
  4. Scroll down to the option labeled "Automatically convert emoticons in your messages to emoji".
  5. Toggle this setting OFF.

Once disabled, all text expressions like :-), :3, and <3 will remain clean raw text faces.

How to Get 100+ Secret Kaomoji on Your iPhone Keyboard

Did you know Apple has a hidden kaomoji keyboard built directly into iOS? You can unlock over 100 native Japanese text faces without downloading any third-party app:

  1. Go to your iPhone Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
  2. Tap Add New Keyboard...
  3. Scroll down and select Japanese, then select Kana (check the box and tap Done).
  4. Now open any app (Notes, Messages, Instagram) and tap the Globe icon on your keyboard to switch to Japanese Kana.
  5. Tap the ^ - ^ smiley face button in the bottom row.
  6. Tap the small expansion arrow (⌵) on the right of the predictive text bar to reveal the full scrollable library of 100+ native Japanese text faces!

How to Stop Emoticons Converting to Emojis on Slack

Similar to Discord, Slack provides a dedicated preference setting to prevent automatic graphic substitution:

  1. Click your profile photo in the top or bottom corner of Slack.
  2. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
  3. Navigate to the Messages & Media tab.
  4. Under the Emoji section, uncheck "Convert my typed emoticons to emojis".

Who Invented Emoticons and When?

The text emoticon was officially invented on September 19, 1982, by Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist Dr. Scott Fahlman. In an email thread discussing campus bulletin board jokes, Fahlman wrote:

"19-Sep-82 11:44 Scott E Fahlman :-) From: Scott E Fahlman <Fahlman at Cmu-20c> I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers: :-) Read it sideways."

Fahlman also suggested :-( for serious or sorrowful remarks. This simple proposal solved the ambiguity of tone on early computer networks, spreading across ARPANET and laying the foundation for modern digital expression.

When Did Emoticons Evolve into Emojis?

In 1999, Japanese interface designer Shigetaka Kurita recognized that mobile screens in Japan were too small for lengthy text messages. While working for telecom giant NTT DOCOMO, Kurita designed the first set of 176 12x12 pixel color emojis for their i-mode mobile internet system. In 2010, the Unicode Consortium officially standardized emojis into Unicode 6.0, allowing characters to render interoperably across Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung platforms.

How to Use Emoticons in Fortnite and Steam

In modern gaming culture, emoticons take on distinct roles:

  • Fortnite Emoticons: In Fortnite, emoticons are cosmetic stickers collected via the Battle Pass. You equip them to your Locker Emote Wheel. During battle, press B on PC or D-Pad Down on controller to flash animated emoticon stickers above your character.
  • Steam Emoticons: On Valve's Steam platform, emoticons are collectible mini-icons tied to games (e.g. :steamhappy:). You earn them by crafting badge sets from Steam Trading Cards, or by spending Steam Points in the Points Shop.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (Emoticon FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions (Emoticon FAQ)

Answers to common questions about text faces, Discord conversion settings, Outlook, and origins in the USA.

1What are emoticons and how do they differ from emojis and kaomoji?▼

Emoticons are text-based facial expressions formed using standard ASCII keyboard characters, punctuation, and symbols (such as :-) or :D). Emojis are graphic pictograms rendered as single Unicode characters (like 😀 or ❤️). Japanese Kaomoji (such as ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) or ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) are advanced horizontal text faces that incorporate Japanese characters, Katakana, and mathematical symbols to express complex emotions without tilting your head.

2How to turn off emoticons converting to emojis on Discord?▼

In the Discord desktop or web app, click the Settings cog (User Settings) in the bottom-left corner. Go to 'Text & Images' under App Settings. Scroll down to 'Automatically convert emoticons in your messages to emoji' and toggle it OFF. Now, typing :-) or :D will stay as clean text faces instead of being replaced by graphical emojis.

3How do I insert or add emoticons in Outlook?▼

In Microsoft Outlook on Windows, press the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + . (period) or Windows Key + ; (semicolon) to open the native emoji and kaomoji picker panel, then click the kaomoji tab (^_^) to browse hundreds of text emoticons. On Mac, press Command + Control + Space. You can also simply click any face on GetAllEmoji to copy and paste it directly into your email body.

4How to stop emoticons turning into emojis on Slack?▼

In Slack, click your profile picture in the sidebar and select 'Preferences'. Under the 'Messages & Media' tab, find the 'Emoji' section and uncheck the box labeled 'Convert my typed emoticons to emojis'. This ensures your typed text faces like :-) or <3 remain as raw text.

5How to get Japanese kaomoji emoticons on iPhone?▼

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard. Select 'Japanese' and choose 'Kana'. When typing anywhere, tap the Globe icon to switch to the Japanese Kana keyboard, tap the '^-^' button on the bottom left, and tap the expansion arrow to unlock over 100+ native Japanese kaomoji directly in your iOS keyboard!

6Who invented emoticons and when were they invented?▼

Computer scientist Scott Fahlman invented text emoticons on September 19, 1982, on a Carnegie Mellon University computer bulletin board. He proposed using ':-)' for jokes and ':-(' for serious remarks to prevent misunderstandings on early online forums.

7Why did emoticons emerge in text-based platforms?▼

Emoticons emerged because plain ASCII text lacks vocal tone, facial expressions, and body language. In early email and bulletin board systems, jokes or sarcasm were frequently misconstrued as anger or insult. Simple text faces like :-) provided essential emotional cues to clarify the writer's intent.

8When did emoticons become emojis?▼

Emoticons evolved into graphic emojis in 1999, when Japanese interface designer Shigetaka Kurita created the first set of 176 12x12 pixel emojis for NTT DOCOMO's i-mode mobile platform. In 2010, emojis were officially incorporated into the international Unicode Standard (Unicode 6.0), allowing them to display across all operating systems globally.

9How do you use emoticons in Fortnite?▼

In Fortnite, emoticons are cosmetic items earned through the Battle Pass or Item Shop. You equip them in your Locker into your Emote Wheel. During a match, press 'B' on PC, the Down D-pad button on console controllers, or the emote button on mobile, navigate to the Emoticons section, and select your emoticon to flash it above your character's head.

10What are Steam emoticons and how do you get them?▼

Steam emoticons are custom mini text icons tied to games on the Steam platform (such as :steamhappy:). You receive them by crafting game badge sets using Steam Trading Cards, or by purchasing them with Steam Points in the Steam Points Shop. They can be used in Steam chats, forums, profile showcases, and status comments.

11Can I copy and paste cute text emoticons for free on TikTok and Instagram?▼

Yes! All 280+ emoticons on GetAllEmoji use universal Unicode characters. Simply click or tap any emoticon to copy it instantly to your clipboard, then paste it directly into your TikTok bio, Instagram captions, comments, Discord server, or gaming nicknames.

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