What Does the 🙇 (Person Bowing) Emoji Mean?

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Discover what it means when someone sends you this respectful emoji

Co-authored by Laura Bilotta and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: August 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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• 🙇 (Person Bowing) Emoji Meaning
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• 🙇‍♂️ (Man Bowing) & 🙇‍♀️ (Woman Bowing) Emoji Meaning
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• Using the 🙇 Emoji
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• 🙇 Emoji Release Date
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• 🙇 Emoji Copy & Paste
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• Related Emojis
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• Tips

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The 🙇 (person bowing) emoji most often symbolizes dogeza in Japan, or bowing deeply to show respect to someone of higher status. It can also be used to apologize to someone, ask for a favor, or send a dirty text—depending on context. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about this versatile emoji, including all of its possible meanings and how to use it. We’ve also included a list of related emojis you can pair with it for an even more exciting conversation.

Meanings of the 🙇🙇‍♀️🙇‍♂️ Bowing Emojis

The 🙇 (person bowing) emoji represents respect and gratitude. It can be used to show admiration or appreciation toward someone, to ask for a big favor, or to give a genuine apology. If you're flirting with someone over text, the 🙇‍♂️ (man bowing) or 🙇‍♀️ (woman bowing) emojis may symbolize oral sex.

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Section 1 of 6:

What does the 🙇 (person bowing) emoji mean?

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1. 
   The 🙇 emoji most often symbolizes respect and gratitude. Also known as dogeza (土下座) in Japan, a person bowing deeply is used to show respect to someone older or of higher status, to express an apology, or to request a large favor. In other cultures, it can represent praying or being extremely thankful. For example:

   • Thank you for coming to the wedding, grandma 🙇❤️
   • I started praying every morning and it has changed my life 🙇🙏
   • Could you do a huge favor for me and pick up Andy from daycare? 🙇🙇🙇
   • I’m sorry for accusing you of cheating. I misread the situation, and I feel terrible 🙇
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Section 2 of 6:

🙇‍♂️ (Man Bowing) & 🙇‍♀️ (Woman Bowing) Emoji Meaning

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1. 
   The 🙇‍♂️ or 🙇‍♀️ emojis may also symbolize oral sex. If you’re texting your partner or FWB, the 🙇‍♂️ (man bowing) or 🙇‍♀️ (woman bowing) emojis can be sexually suggestive. Use either one alone or string them together with other sexy emojis to turn up the heat. Example texts:

   • Can’t wait till you come over 🙇‍♂️
   • You’re going get it later 🙇‍♀️🫦💥😏
   • I hope you’re ready for a nice treat after work 🙇‍♀️👅💦

Section 3 of 6:

How to Use the 🙇 (Person Bowing) Emoji

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1. 
   1
   Use the 🙇 emoji to show respect or deference. If you’re texting someone you admire, send them the 🙇 emoji at the beginning or end of the conversation. It can be used like the 👋 (waving hand) emoji to say hello or goodbye in a polite manner, plus show that you enjoyed speaking with them. Example texts:

   • Greetings, Samantha 🙇
   • Hello, Jonathan 🙇 How are you doing today?
   • It was so lovely chatting with you! Have an amazing rest of your day 🙇
2. 
   2
   Send the 🙇 emoji if you need to request a big favor. Whether you want to borrow a friend’s car or ask a close colleague to cover for you, the 🙇 emoji is one of the best ways to request for help. Be sure to ask the other person politely and offer them an incentive if they seem hesitant—adding some cute emojis may also sweeten your text! For example:

   • Could you please pick me up from the airport? 🙇💝🥺
   • Would it be possible for you to turn in my paper on Friday? 🙇
   • I’d really appreciate it if you could go over the slides with me 🙇 I can bring cookies! 😋
3. 
   3
   Text the 🙇 emoji if you want to give a sincere apology. Looking to express genuine remorse and beg someone for forgiveness? The 🙇 emoji is the perfect way to say you’re sorry, especially when paired with a thoughtful message that shows accountability for your actions. Example texts:

   • I’m really sorry for forgetting to pick you up 🙇
   • I’m sorry for how I treated you 🙇 I promise I will find a way to make it up to you!
   • I feel terrible for what I said to you earlier. I know there’s no excuse, but I’m sorry 🙇
4. 
   4
   Drop the 🙇 emoji to thank someone and express gratitude. Did someone surprise you with a gift or go out of their way to help you? Send the 🙇 emoji to show your appreciation! It’s another way of saying, “I’m super grateful for you and all that you do.” Example texts:

   • I just got your gift in the mail! Thank you 🙇
   • Thank you so much for helping me out 🙇 It means the world ❤️🌎
   • Thanks for picking me up from the party 🙇 I seriously owe you one!
5. 
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   Use the 🙇 emoji to indicate you’re praying or performing a religious act. No matter what religion you practice, the 🙇 emoji can show you’re connected to your spiritual side. Send it to a friend or family member when you’re at church, in the middle of fasting, or praying at the temple. For example:

   • I’m heading to the mosque 🙇🕌
   • I’ll call you in an hour! I’m still at church 🙇⛪🙏
   • I went on the most incredible retreat this weekend 🙇🧿✨
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   Send the 🙇‍♂️ or 🙇‍♀️ emojis when sexting someone you’re attracted to. Trying to turn someone on over text? Use any variation of the bowing emoji to suggest you want to engage in oral sex. It’s flirty, direct, and sure to get them in the mood! For example:

   • You’re not ready for me 🙇‍♂️😈🙇‍♂️😈
   • Just a preview of your birthday present: 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️
   • You just made my day ❤️ You’re definitely getting a reward later 😉🙇‍♂️🧠
7. 
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   Use the 🙇 emoji if you’re about to hit the gym or get a massage. Some people misinterpret the bowing emoji to mean they’re doing pushups or lying down to get a massage. Drop a 🙇 if you’re on a health and wellness kick and want to tell everyone you’re serious about it! Example texts:

   • I’m DEAD. I just did 100 pushups 🙇
   • Peep my fitness journey on TikTok 👀🙇
   • I’m about to get a deep tissue massage 🙇
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Section 4 of 6:

When did the 🙇 (person bowing) emoji come out?

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1. 
   The 🙇 emoji was added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015. It was officially approved as part of Unicode 6.0 on October 11, 2010. The 🙇‍♀️ (woman bowing) and 🙇‍♂️ (man bowing) emojis were added to Emoji 4.0 on November 28, 2016, along with new gendered emojis and emoji skin tones.

Section 5 of 6:

🙇 (Person Bowing) Emoji Copy & Paste

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1. 
   The 🙇 emoji’s Unicode is U+1F647. If you need to display the bowing emoji in your HTML code, type in “&#x1F647.” Some fonts, like Twemoji and EmojiOne, include a wide range of emojis you can use, as long as you include a reference to the font in your HTML code and use the corresponding character code.

   • If you want to copy and paste the 🙇 emoji on your computer, highlight the emoji, right-click the mouse or trackpad, and hit “Copy.” Then, right-click where you want to place the emoji and select “Paste.”
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Section 6 of 6:

Related Emojis

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1. 
   The 🙇 emoji goes great with gesture, body part, and religious emojis. From the facepalm emoji to the praying hands emoji, there are tons of ways to express your emotions. Use any of the following emojis to spice up a conversation over text, or combine them with the 🙇 emoji to convey messages without using words:

   • 🕊️ (dove)
   • ⛪ (church)
   • ✝️ (Latin cross)
   • 🤝 (handshake)
   • 🫡 (saluting face)
   • 🙏 (folded hands)
   • 📿 (prayer beads)
   • 🥺 (pleading face)
   • 🙌 (raising hands)
   • 🤷 (person shrugging)
   • 🤦 (person facepalming)
   • 🙆 (person gesturing OK)
   • 😇 (smiling face with halo)
   • 💆 (person getting massage)

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Tips

• According to dating coach and professional matchmaker Laura Bilotta, emojis "add a playful tone to your messages and help convey your sense of humor." Send a 😉, 😈, or 😏 to lighten the mood and be flirty over text.
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