<p>Google translates 'emoji' as 表情符號, I think it is an acceptable translation.</p>

<p>The term Emoji originated from 絵文字 in Japanese. Since Japanese Kanji came from Chinese characters, 絵文字 can be reverse import back to Chinese. Which mean if you say 絵文字 in Chinese, people would know you are talking about emojis.</p>

<ul>
<li><em>Emojis is different from 顏文字 , which you make faces with typed characters.</em></li>
</ul>

<p>Examples of 顏文字:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/IfmB8.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/IfmB8.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-15T23:15:23.397Z
Yes, it sounds right to me too. I've always used and heard 表情 only, omitting the 符号. I guess for colloquial speech and provided the context is unambiguous 表情 is enough.
blackgreen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-01-15T00:23:24.423Z
2020-03-07T23:47:06.980Z
2020-03-07T23:47:06.980Z
Tang Ho
<p>Most people say "emoji" without translating. While many use "颜文字" for "emoticon" (from Japanese 顔文字 <em>kao-moji</em>), we almost never really say "绘文字". A semantical translation might be "表情图" ("graphical emotions"), but it's not really equivalent to "emoji". So, you could just use "emoji" as is.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-15T11:15:04.640Z
2017-01-15T11:15:04.640Z
xuq01
<h2>表情符號</h2>

<p>表情符號 is the best translation for the type of emoji mentioned.</p>

<p>Or, you can directly use the English word <strong>emoji</strong> orally or in informal writing.</p>

<p>Side note: Japanese style emoji <code>(´・ω・｀) ('・ω・´) (*´ω｀*)</code> are usually referred as <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A1%94%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97" rel="nofollow noreferrer">顔文字</a>.</p>

<hr>

<h2>Reference</h2>

<p><a href="https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1893?viewlocale=zh_TW" rel="nofollow noreferrer">iOS 10.2 release note (Chinese)</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>iOS 10.2 [...] 加入了超過 100 種新的<strong>表情符號</strong>，其中包含新的表情、食物、動物、運動和職業。</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1893?viewlocale=en_US" rel="nofollow noreferrer">iOS 10.2 release note (English)</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>iOS 10.2 [...] <strong>Emoji</strong> have been beautifully redesigned to reveal even more detail and over 100 new <strong>emoji</strong> have been added including new faces, food, animals, sports, and professions.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>iOS screenshot (<a href="https://briian.com/9598/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">credit</a>):
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/iDDpR.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/iDDpR.png" alt="iOS emoji keyboard"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-19T21:09:56.440Z
I'm glad to read that because that's the translation I have chosen. However, I have picked the Chinese simplified version: 表情符号
chelder
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-20T07:39:28.300Z
@chelder glad to hear that :) while, choosing Simplified / Traditional Chinese depends on your situation / target audience. it should be consistent (throughout the paragraph / website / app).
wilson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-19T07:24:45.807Z
2017-01-19T07:42:14.910Z
2017-01-19T07:42:14.910Z
wilson
<p>We have tried different translators with no luck. Is there any translation to Chinese? Do we have to write the English version like Sim Card?</p>

<p>These are emojis:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/yTlM9.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yTlM9.jpg" alt="emojis"></a></p>

<translation>
How to say emojis in Chinese?
# How to say emojis in Chinese?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-14)

We have tried different translators with no luck. Is there any translation to Chinese? Do we have to write the English version like Sim Card?

These are emojis:

[![emojis](https://i.sstatic.net/yTlM9.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/yTlM9.jpg)

**Tags:** translation

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-15. Score: 4

Google translates 'emoji' as 表情符號, I think it is an acceptable translation.

The term Emoji originated from 絵文字 in Japanese. Since Japanese Kanji came from Chinese characters, 絵文字 can be reverse import back to Chinese. Which mean if you say 絵文字 in Chinese, people would know you are talking about emojis.

* *Emojis is different from 顏文字 , which you make faces with typed characters.*

Examples of 顏文字:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/IfmB8.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/IfmB8.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Yes, it sounds right to me too. I've always used and heard 表情 only, omitting the 符号. I guess for colloquial speech and provided the context is unambiguous 表情 is enough.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-01-15. Score: 3

Most people say "emoji" without translating. While many use "颜文字" for "emoticon" (from Japanese 顔文字 *kao-moji*), we almost never really say "绘文字". A semantical translation might be "表情图" ("graphical emotions"), but it's not really equivalent to "emoji". So, you could just use "emoji" as is.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-01-19. Score: 2

## 表情符號

表情符號 is the best translation for the type of emoji mentioned.

Or, you can directly use the English word **emoji** orally or in informal writing.

Side note: Japanese style emoji `(´・ω・｀) ('・ω・´) (*´ω｀*)` are usually referred as [顔文字](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A1%94%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97).

---

## Reference

[iOS 10.2 release note (Chinese)](https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1893?viewlocale=zh_TW):

> iOS 10.2 [...] 加入了超過 100 種新的**表情符號**，其中包含新的表情、食物、動物、運動和職業。

[iOS 10.2 release note (English)](https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1893?viewlocale=en_US):

> iOS 10.2 [...] **Emoji** have been beautifully redesigned to reveal even more detail and over 100 new **emoji** have been added including new faces, food, animals, sports, and professions.

iOS screenshot ([credit](https://briian.com/9598/)):
[![iOS emoji keyboard](https://i.sstatic.net/iDDpR.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/iDDpR.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I'm glad to read that because that's the translation I have chosen. However, I have picked the Chinese simplified version: 表情符号  
> **username_4**: @chelder glad to hear that :) while, choosing Simplified / Traditional Chinese depends on your situation / target audience. it should be consistent (throughout the paragraph / website / app).  

---

