Represents a Japanese fried shrimp, or tempura — golden, crispy, and comforting. It’s the emoji of good food, cozy meals, and little self-rewards, often used when you’re sharing something delicious or celebrating a small win.
You’re posting dinner pics after finishing a stressful project.
Finally done! Time for some 🍤 and chill.
Sometimes used playfully to mean you’re “fried” or “crispy” after a long day — as in, totally exhausted but in a funny way.
In Japan, 🍤 specifically represents tempura (天ぷら) — a classic dish where shrimp or vegetables are coated in a light batter and fried to a delicate crunch. While the English name “fried shrimp” makes it easy for global users to understand, the emoji’s design and meaning are rooted in Japanese cuisine. It often evokes comfort, homemade bentos, or restaurant meals, symbolizing simple happiness and warmth. You’ll even see it in LINE stickers beside bowls of rice or noodles, as a tiny visual shorthand for “Japanese comfort food.”
Avoid using 🍤 in flirty chats — it’s literally shrimp, not a metaphor (even if the shape tempts some imaginations).
Related emojis that share similar meanings or usage.
