Used to show tiredness, drowsiness, or being emotionally drained. The little droplet isn’t a tear — it’s a “sleep bubble,” showing you’re about to doze off.
You promised to watch a movie with your friend, but it’s already midnight and your eyes won’t stay open.
swear I’m still watching… 😪
In Japanese chats, 😪 often means simple sleepiness (眠い), not sadness. It’s common to send it at the end of the day as a gentle “good night” signal.
Western users sometimes misread the droplet as crying — if you want to show sadness, use 😢 instead. 😪 is more “I’m about to fall asleep” than “I’m upset.”
See what they share and how they differ to choose the right one.
Both show a person nodding off, with a relaxed mouth and closed eyes. 😪 conveys drowsiness and emotional drain, a drifting moment toward sleep. 😴 reads heavier and more conclusive. It signals full sleep or utter collapse. The tone leans flat and absolute rather than just weary. It often feels like the end of endurance rather than a brief lapse. The nuance is more emphatic and final, implying total shutdown where the sleepy face suggests gradual fading rather than complete lights out.
You can use 😪 sleepy face to indicate you’re feeling drowsy, slightly drained, or about to nod off during the day. Use 😴 sleeping face to show you’re completely exhausted, signing off for sleep, or to jokingly say something is unbearably boring.
Related emojis that share similar meanings or usage.
