Shows big, open-mouthed surprise—like “WOW!” It’s the go-to emoji for total shock, disbelief, or something way beyond what you expected.
Your coworker says they just won $10,000 in a raffle.
No way, that’s insane 😲
astonished face
😲astonished face
Definitions & examples
- Groups
- Subgroups
- Unicode
- U+1F632
- Variant status
- Fully-qualified
- Emoji version
- E0.6
Sometimes used playfully to react to gossip or dramatic news, like “You did WHAT?!” energy.
In Japanese chats, 😲 overlaps with “びっくり！” (surprise), often used for comic exaggeration rather than true shock—think anime-style reactions.
Too many 😲 in a row can make your message sound sarcastic; one is enough to show you’re genuinely surprised.
Compare picks
See what they share and how they differ to choose the right one.
Differences between 😲 (astonished face) and 🤯 (exploding head)
Both show wide eyes and open mouths. 😲 conveys broad, literal shock and disbelief, like a loud wow. 🤯 has a more intense, mind-blown tone. It signals an overwhelming mental reaction, a sense that something has shattered expectations or comprehension. The emotion feels more extreme and dramatic than 😲, bordering on awe, madness, or sensory overload. While 😲 reads as straightforward surprise, 🤯 carries extra flair and theatricality, suggesting the experience left a lasting impression on thought rather than just a momentary jolt.
Usage
You might use 😲 astonished face for a sudden, unexpected announcement that leaves you speechless; please choose it for straightforward shock. Use 🤯 exploding head for something astonishingly clever, confusing, or overwhelmingly impressive; please choose it when you want to convey being mind-blown.
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Related emojis that share similar meanings or usage.
😱
face screaming in fear
Shows extreme shock, horror, or panic—like seeing a jump scare or hearing way too much drama. It’s the “AAAH!!” emoji, loud and theatrical.
🤯
exploding head
Shows total shock, amazement, or mind-blown surprise. It’s perfect for “I can’t believe this!” moments — whether something is unbelievably cool, confusing, or ridiculous.
😮
face with open mouth
Shows genuine surprise, wonder, or disbelief. It’s the wide-eyed “whoa!” face you’d use when something unexpected or impressive happens — neutral in tone, not shocked in a bad way, just openly amazed.
😆
grinning squinting face
This emoji shows a big open-mouthed smile with eyes tightly shut, expressing hearty laughter, amusement, or cheerful excitement. It’s often used to show that something is genuinely funny or to lighten the mood with playful energy. Compared to 😁, which feels more like a friendly grin, 😆 carries a louder, more carefree vibe — almost like laughing out loud in text form.
😯
hushed face
Used when you’re surprised, impressed, or quietly amazed. It’s a soft “oh!”—not shock or fear, just genuine wonder or disbelief.