thought balloon

💭

thought balloon

Represents thinking, imagination, or an inner monologue. It’s the “thinking bubble” you’d see in a comic—used when reflecting, daydreaming, or silently reacting to something.

  • You’re reflecting on a text that felt deeper than expected.

    Maybe that actually meant more than I realized 💭

Subgroups
Unicode
U+1F4AD
Variant status
Fully-qualified
Emoji version
E1.0
General

Commonly paired with introspective or philosophical posts (“late-night thoughts 💭”). It can also mean pondering or hesitation, like “hmm…” energy.

Cross-cultural

In Japanese chats, 💭 echoes manga thought bubbles—it often implies quiet musing, internal feelings, or shy self-talk (like “心の声”). It’s softer and more private than 💬.

Heads-up

💭 alone can seem cryptic, as if you’re hiding something or expecting others to guess your thoughts. Add a few words (“just thinking 💭”) to keep it friendly and clear.

Compare picks

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Differences between 💭 (thought balloon) and 💬 (speech balloon)

Both are comic-style balloons with rounded shapes. 💭 represents thinking and inward reflection, an inner monologue. 💬 reads as speaking and outward expression, more direct and communicative. The tone of 💬 feels conversational and active. It implies exchange and vocalization, rather than private rumination. Visually it appears clearer and more declarative than 💭, conveying speech rather than silent thought, and it signals dialogue and explicit statements rather than imagination or quiet contemplation.

Usage

Use 💭 when you want to show that you are reflecting, daydreaming, or silently reacting without speaking. Use 💬 when you intend to indicate that you are speaking, replying, or actively participating in a conversation.

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