Playful and a little flirty, this wink adds a friendly twist or light teasing to your message. It can soften sarcasm, hint at an inside joke, or show you’re being cheeky without sounding too serious.
You just turned down your friend’s offer to share dessert but still want to sound teasing, not rude.
I’m watching my sugar intake… but maybe just one bite 😉
Overusing 😉—especially in work or formal chats—can come off as flirtatious or insincere. Use it sparingly when you truly mean to tease or lighten the tone.
In Japanese chats or on LINE, 😉 is usually read as a friendly acknowledgment or a mild “thanks for going along,” rather than a flirtatious cue. It feels polite and good-natured, without the teasing undertone it often carries in English.
See what they share and how they differ to choose the right one.
Both show a wink and playful intent. 😉 conveys playful flirtation and a light teasing tone. It suggests a sly aside or gentle sarcasm with a hint of charm. 😜 feels more overtly silly and exuberant, a louder laugh and comic energy. It communicates carefree joking, exaggerated goofiness, and a less coy mood. The tongue adds a physical punch to the wink, making the emotion more buoyant and less subtle than 😉. Overall 😜 reads like an unguarded prankish moment, while 😉 keeps it teasing and slightly mysterious.
If you want to be playfully teasing with a hint of flirtation or a sly inside joke, use 😉 in personal or semi-intimate exchanges. If you need to make a comment clearly silly and harmless to defuse tension or signal “just kidding,” use 😜 in casual group chats or lighthearted conversations.
Related emojis that share similar meanings or usage.
