Used when you’re stressed, relieved after tension, or embarrassed about a small mistake. It’s like saying “phew…” or “ugh, that was close.”
You almost missed your train but managed to hop on just before the doors closed.
Made it… barely 😓
downcast face with sweat
😓downcast face with sweat
Definitions & examples
- Groups
- Subgroups
- Unicode
- U+1F613
- Variant status
- Fully-qualified
- Emoji version
- E0.6
Can show mild embarrassment after a mistake or when something awkward happens—like tripping in public but laughing it off.
In Japanese chats, 😓 often appears as “焦った〜！” (“That was close!”) or “やばっ！” to express near-miss moments or social awkwardness. It’s half relief, half stress.
Don’t mix up 😓 with 😰—😓 is for minor stress or awkwardness, while 😰 shows heavier anxiety or fear.
Compare picks
See what they share and how they differ to choose the right one.
Differences between 😓 (downcast face with sweat) and 😰 (anxious face with sweat)
Both show a furrowed brow and a bead of sweat on the temple. 😓 conveys mild stress, relief after tension, or small embarrassment, a breathy phew. 😰 feels sharper and more alarmed, a sense of genuine anxiety and looming trouble. The tone is tenser and less wry, with an urgency that suggests things might get worse. The emotional nuance shifts from sheepish, slightly drained resignation to acute nervousness and worried anticipation.
Usage
You might choose 😓 when you’re describing relief after a close call or admitting a small awkward mistake with a light, apologetic tone. Choose 😰 when you’re conveying real-time panic, serious stress, or a situation that feels like it could worsen and you need to communicate alarm.
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Related emojis that share similar meanings or usage.
😕
confused face
- Group
- Smileys & Emotion
- Subgroup
- face-concerned
🫠
melting face
- Group
- Smileys & Emotion
- Subgroup
- face-smiling