Represents a folded paper takeout box, the kind often used for leftovers in Chinese-American restaurants. 🥡 stands for takeout food, late-night meals, or that “I’m too tired to cook” mood. It carries cozy, urban, slightly nostalgic vibes—think city lights, noodles, and chopsticks.
You’re texting your roommate on a lazy Friday night.
No cooking tonight. Let’s just do 🥡 and Netflix.
Can mean “takeout night,” “quick comfort,” or even a chill-out mood. Sometimes used jokingly to say “I’m living off takeout again.”
The 🥡 box is an icon of Chinese-American cuisine, not traditional Chinese dining. It originated in the U.S. around the mid-20th century as a practical container for noodles and rice, designed for portability. In real China, meals are typically packed in plastic or metal containers, not these folded paper boxes. So while Western users see 🥡 as “classic Chinese food,” East Asians recognize it as an Americanized symbol—representing the diaspora experience and the cultural remix of Chinese flavors in the U.S.
Don’t confuse 🥡 with 🍱 (bento box); the first says “lazy takeout night,” the second says “carefully packed lunch.”
Related emojis that share similar meanings or usage.
