Bear Emojis: 🐻 🧸 🐼 🐨 🐻‍❄️ What They Mean & How to Use Them

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Plus, copy & paste some old-school bear emoticons

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: January 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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• 🐻 Meanings & Uses
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• 🧸 Meanings & Uses
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• 🐼 Meaning & Uses
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• 🐨 Meaning & Uses
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• 🐻❄️ (or 🐻‍❄️) Meaning & Uses
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• Bear Emoticons

|Show more |Show less

Bears—they’re oh-so-cute and 100% adorable! But when someone sends you a bear emoji, what does it mean? Are they saying you’re cute and adorable, or is there another meaning? In this article, we’ve decoded all the different bear emojis and their uses. So, keep reading to learn what the 🐻 (bear), 🧸 (teddy bear), 🐼 (panda bear), 🐨 (koala bear), and 🐻‍❄️ (panda bear) emojis really mean!

Bear Emoji Meaning Breakdowns

The bear 🐻 emoji is most commonly used to talk about wildlife and nature. You may see it when describing the outdoors or brown bear sightings. Alternatively, in the gay community, the 🐻 emoji symbolizes large, hairy men and is used to show sexual identity.

Steps

Section 1 of 6:

What does the bear 🐻 emoji mean?

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1. 
   1
   The 🐻 emoji can be used to talk about bears or wildlife in general. This adorable depiction of a brown bear has chubby cheeks, a round nose, and endearing eyes. Wildfires and wildlife conservation have been associated with a brown bear for many generations, thanks to Smokey Bear. Because of this, a 🐻 emoji is often used with other nature emojis when discussing wildlife or being outdoors.

   • “A weekend in nature? Perfect. 🐻🌲☀️”
   • “Be safe tonight! If you make s’mores, remember what Smokey says 🐻😉”
2. 
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   A 🐻 emoji also represents a larger, hairier gay man in the LGBTQ+ community. In gay culture, a Bear is a commonly acknowledged body type, typically a gay men who's not ashamed of his large or burly physique and has noticeable body hair. They also tend to be more masculine-acting, but this is a generalization. In this context, a 🐻 emoji may be used next to pronouns or a gay flag to show how someone identifies.

   • “He/him/they 🐻🏳️‍🌈”
   • “I’m looking for a 🐻 who can take care of me, if you know what I mean 🤭👬”
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Section 2 of 6:

What does the teddy bear 🧸 emoji mean?

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1. 
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   A 🧸 emoji represents toys and childhood. Sitting up with a gentle smile, this emoji depiction of a favorite childhood toy is the perfect representation of all things kid! The 🧸 emoji is commonly paired with other child-like emojis to convey childhood and toys.

   • “Remember to bring your old toys to tonight’s toy drive! 🏎️🧸⚽🚂”
   • “I remember when Davie was that little 🥹 He carried his 🧸 around everywhere!”
2. 
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   The 🧸 emoji is also a sign of love from a crush or partner. When you think about Valentine’s Day, what do you think of? We bet the first things that come to mind are hearts and teddy bears! Teddy bears are often associated with love, and the 🧸 emoji is no different (especially when it comes from a special girl or guy in your life). A crush or partner may send this (along with other loving emojis) to say that they have warm feelings for you.

   • “Happy Valentine’s Day, my love 🧸❤️”
   • “Have I ever told you you’re cute? 🧸”
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Section 3 of 6:

What does the panda bear 🐼 emoji mean?

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1. 
   The 🐼 emoji represents anything Chinese. With its round face, tiny nose, and large black eyes, is there anything cuter than a panda bear? This emoji is a perfect depiction of the adorable animal and is most commonly used when talking about pandas, Chinese culture, or something that is outrageously cute.

   • “One day, I’ll get to see 🐼 in China 🇨🇳”
   • “Did you watch the video I sent you? SO CUTE 🐼😍”

Section 4 of 6:

What does the koala bear 🐨 emoji mean?

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1. 
   The 🐨 emoji is a symbol for all things Australian. This adorable emoji is a wonderful depiction of one of Australia's most famous animals—koalas! A 🐨 emoji is commonly used when discussing Australia, nature, or anything sweet. With its adorable black nose, fluffy ears, and soft gray fur, this emoji certainly passes the cute check!

   • “Guess where we are? 🐨🇦🇺🦘”
   • “I think 🐨 are my favorite animal! Just look at that sweet face 🥹”
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Section 5 of 6:

What does the 🐻❄️ (bear + snowflake) combo mean?

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1. 
   🐻❄️ (bear + snowflake) is the ZWJ sequence for the polar bear 🐻‍❄️ emoji. When paired with a ❄️ emoji, a 🐻 emoji looks like a white polar bear. While there is a polar bear emoji available on most devices, the specific ZWJ Sequence to make a polar bear 🐻‍❄️ is 🐻❄️ (bear + snowflake). So, if someone sends you 🐻❄️, they’re trying to create a 🐻‍❄️ or are likely talking about a polar bear.

   • “I can’t wait to see 🐻❄️ at the zoo!”
   • “Have you seen that 🐻❄️ documentary? So cool! 🤯”
   • A ZWJ Sequence is a combination of multiple emojis that displays or creates a single emoji.

Section 6 of 6:

Bear Emoticons

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1. 
   Copy and paste these bear emoticons for a unique, old-school look. If emojis aren’t your jam, no worries! There are plenty of other clever ways you can send your friend a text with an adorable bear. Take a look at these bear emoticons, copy one you like, and paste it into a message:

   • ┏ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ┛
   • ʕ ◕ᴥ◕ ʔ
   • ᵔᴥᵔ
   • ＼ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ／
   • ʕ ● ᴥ ●ʔ
   • ʕ •ₒ• ʔ
   • ʕ – ᴥ – ʔ
   • ฅ՞•ﻌ•՞ฅ
   • ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ
   • ˙✧˖°ʕ•ﻌ•ʔᡣ𐭩⋆｡˚
   • ʢᴗ.ᴗʡᶻ
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