Used when you’re sad, disappointed, or quietly upset. It’s gentle—not full-on crying, but you clearly feel down or let down.
Your friend cancels weekend plans at the last minute.
Aww, I was really looking forward to it 🙁
slightly frowning face
🙁slightly frowning face
Definitions & examples
- Groups
- Subgroups
- Unicode
- U+1F641
- Variant status
- Fully-qualified
- Emoji version
- E1.0
Can also show mild guilt or sympathy, like when you feel bad for someone else’s bad day.
In Japanese chats, this emoji can feel more like quiet regret or self-reflection rather than sadness toward others—closer to “反省中” (“I’m reflecting on my mistake”).
Overusing 🙁 might make your messages sound heavier than you intend; for small inconveniences, 🙂 or 😕 may feel lighter.
Compare picks
See what they share and how they differ to choose the right one.
Differences between 🙁 (slightly frowning face) and 😔 (pensive face)
Both faces share a downturned mouth and a quiet sadness. 🙁 conveys mild disappointment or gentle sadness, a low-key expression of feeling let down. 😔 feels inward and reflective, softer and more contemplative than 🙁. The pensive face suggests thoughtfulness about what hurts, a private, rueful mood. Its eyes and tilt give a softer resignation, more inward focus, and a sense of pondering rather than plain displeasure.
Usage
Use 🙁 when you are simply disappointed or gently upset and want to communicate that feeling plainly. Use 😔 when you are reflecting on something that hurts a little and want to convey a softer, more contemplative sadness.
Differences between 🙁 (slightly frowning face) and 😞 (disappointed face)
Both are subdued sad faces. 🙁 conveys mild sadness, disappointment, or quiet upset. 😞 feels deeper and more resigned, carrying a heavier tone of let down and regret. The eyes and mouth suggest a deeper inner sigh and a sense of emotional weight in the face. The mood of 😞 reads as more inward and weary, while 🙁 stays gentler and less burdened. The difference is subtle but clear, with 😞 implying a more tangible sense of being let down.
Usage
Use 🙁 when you’re noting mild sadness or offering gentle sympathy in a casual message. Use 😞 when you’re expressing that you feel genuinely let down or regretful and want to convey a deeper, resigned tone.
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Related emojis that share similar meanings or usage.
😞
disappointed face
Used when you feel let down, regretful, or quietly sad. It’s not dramatic crying—more like a deep sigh and a quiet “oh…” inside.
😔
pensive face
Used when you feel sad, disappointed, or quietly reflective. It’s softer than crying — more like “I’m thinking about something that hurts a little.”
🥹
face holding back tears
Used to show that you’re deeply touched, grateful, or emotionally moved, often in a sweet or bittersweet way. It’s the “I’m gonna cry but in a cute way” face — perfect when words can’t capture how soft or thankful you feel.
😥
sad but relieved face
Used when you’re sad or disappointed but also slightly relieved that things didn’t get worse. It’s the “that was rough, but at least it’s over” feeling.
😓
downcast face with sweat
Used when you’re stressed, relieved after tension, or embarrassed about a small mistake. It’s like saying “phew…” or “ugh, that was close.”