fearful face

😨

fearful face

Shows sudden fear, shock, or alarm. It’s what you’d send when something scary, intense, or wildly unexpected just happened.

  • Your roommate texts that a huge spider is on your bed.

    DON’T. MOVE. I’m coming 😨

Unicode
U+1F628
Variant status
Fully-qualified
Emoji version
E0.6
General

Can also express nervous anticipation before something big, like an exam or a scary movie scene.

Cross-cultural

In Japanese chats, 😨 often blends with comic exaggeration, closer to an β€œγ³γ£γγ‚Šγ—γŸοΌβ€ (β€œThat scared me!”) reactionβ€”more startled than truly terrified.

Heads-up

Don’t confuse 😨 with 😱; this one’s anxious or startled, not full screaming panic.

Compare picks

See what they share and how they differ to choose the right one.

Differences between 😨 (fearful face) and 😰 (anxious face with sweat)

Both are pale faces with wide eyes and a worried expression. 😨 conveys sudden shock and alarm. It registers a sharp, immediate fright that interrupts a moment. 😰 feels more lingering and tense, a sweaty, breathless anxiety that presses on the chest. It suggests ongoing nervousness and fatigue rather than a single jolt. The tone of 😰 is strained and apprehensive, quietly desperate rather than explosively startled. The emotional nuance of 😰 leans toward endurance and dread while 😨 points to an intense, brief panic.

Usage

You might use 😨 when something surprising and frightening just happened and you want to convey immediate shock. Use 😰 when you feel worried, stressed, or under pressure and want to express anxious concern rather than instant terror.

Differences between 😨 (fearful face) and 😦 (frowning face with open mouth)

Both show an open mouth and widened eyes, suggesting reaction. 😨 conveys sudden fear and shock. It feels immediate and intense, like alarm or panic. 😦 reads quieter and more reserved, a milder surprise or disappointment. The tone of 😦 is contemplative, a soft realization rather than full alarm. It signals concern without hysteria, a subdued emotional register that lingers rather than erupts.

Usage

You might send 😨 fearful face when something frightening or wildly unexpected happens and you need to convey alarm urgently. You might send 😦 frowning face with open mouth when you realize something is off or want to express mild shock or disappointment without causing panic.

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