This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundationโs Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University.
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Trying to figure out the difference between ๐ and ๐? Donโt see how ๐คฒ and ๐ could possibly be different? There are a few emojis depicting two hands, and they all work a little differently from one another. In this article, weโll break down everything you need to know about the ๐ (raised hands) emoji, ๐คฒ (palms up) emoji, ๐ (folded/praying hands) emoji, and the ๐ (open hands) emoji.
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๐ (Raised Hands) Emoji Meanings
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1The ๐ emoji represents celebration and positive vibes. The ๐ emoji depicts someone raising their hands high over their head. This gesture is common when you see someone rooting the home team on, or praising someone. In fact, this emoji originally meant โgive me ten!โ as in two high-fives. You might see it used like this:
- โI just heard you got the gig!! Congrats! Iโm so excited for you ๐.โ
- โYou crushed that presentation ๐!โ
- โI know you start freshman year this week. Are you amped? I canโt wait to see what you do next ๐!!!โ
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2You can use a ๐ emoji to encourage or motivate someone. If you want to compliment someone, encourage them, or otherwise shower them with praise, throw a ๐ in there to give your message a little razzle dazzle. For example:
- โYouโre the best ๐.โ
- โI loved seeing you perform. Youโre so talented ๐!โ
- โYou crushed it today. I wouldnโt make it without you ๐!โ
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3In fringe cases, a ๐ emoji can represent momentum or high energy. The little lines at the top of the raised hands emoji indicate motion. Since there are relatively few emojis that are stylized this way, you can use the raised hands emoji to emphasize how hype you are, or to convey energetic movement. For example:
- โItโs time to get up! Where are you? Iโm trying to go ๐.โ
- โI got up ๐ and I turned up ๐ฏ.โ
- โLETโS GOOOO ๐ ๐ ๐โ
๐คฒ (Palms Up) Emoji Meanings
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1The ๐คฒ emoji typically represents prayer. This ๐คฒ emoji shows a set of open palms, held open towards the sky. Often, this emoji is used to emphasize prayer (but more of a somber, serious form of prayer than the ๐ (folded/praying hands) emoji). For example:
- โEverything I have I owe to God ๐คฒ.โ
- โJust trust the universe and ๐คฒ. Everything will work out.โ
- โI ๐คฒ every night before bed that things will get better.โ
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2You can use a ๐คฒ emoji to ask for help or showcase humility. If you want to (kind of playfully) ask for something, you can add a ๐คฒ to signal that youโre trying to be gracious, kind of like you arenโt super happy about having to ask for a handout. You can also use this emoji to showcase some grace and humbleness. You could say:
- โ๐๐คฒ. I need some helpโฆI hate to ask, but can you cover my lunch today?โ
- โI hate to do this, but can I maybe hitch a ride to work this week? ๐คฒโ
- โI could use some $ if you got paid this week ๐คฒ. I promise to pay you back ๐!โ
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3You could use a ๐คฒ to reference reading. The palms up emoji happens to look a lot like the American Sign Language gesture for โbook.โ[1] X Research source On top of that, people often hold open books with their hands together, kind of like the ๐คฒ emoji. If you want to encourage someone to read or talk about a book, you can use the palms up emoji.[2] X Research source You might say:
- โI canโt meet up tonight. I have to finish this book for class tomorrow ๐คฒ.โ
- โI love a good book ๐คฒ. I actually read every night before bed.โ
- โWhy are you texting me? Arenโt you supposed to be ๐คฒ for English?โ
๐ (Folded/Praying Hands) Emoji Meanings
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1The ๐ emoji represents prayer or thankfulness. The ๐ emoji shows two hands pressed together. This often represents prayer, since this is the gesture many religious people make when theyโre praying.[3] X Research source Itโs also the gesture people make sometimes when they say โthank youโ or โI appreciate you,โ so itโs often used that way as well.
- โThank you so much for helping me out today. I really appreciate it ๐.โ
- โYou are the best! I know you stuck your neck out for me and it means a lot ๐. โ
- โI know youโre having a rough one. Itโs days like these where it helps to remember itโs all a part of a bigger plan ๐. You got this.โ
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2Use a ๐ emoji to express gratitude in a sincere way. The most common usage of the ๐ emoji isnโt usually religious. You may use this emoji to say โthank youโ in a more vibrant way. Thereโs nothing wrong with using this emoji to say โpraise God,โ but you may get more mileage out of it as a decorative way of showing thanks.[4] X Research source Someone could say: You might say:
- โThank you for today ๐. Seriously. Youโre the best.โ
- โWeโve got this! ๐ ๐ ๐โ
- โI know youโve got a lot on your plate, but I wanted to say that Iโm proud of you ๐.โ
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3You might use a ๐ emoji to high-five someone. If you imagine each hand in the ๐ emoji belongs to two different people, this emoji kind of looks like a high-five. If you want to throw a digital high-five someoneโs way, you can 100% use this emoji to decorate your message.[5] X Research source For example:
- โYou nailed it ๐.โ
- โYou crushed that interview ๐.โ
- โHigh-five! ๐โ
๐ (Open Hands) Emoji Meanings
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1The ๐ emoji represents either general openness, or a hug. This ๐ emoji shows two palms pressed together and turned open towards the world. This can convey a kind of friendly openness, or playful warmth. These hands also look a lot like the hands on the ๐ค (hugging face) emoji, so ๐ are often used to signify a hug.
- โHey stranger ๐! Iโm fiending for some cotton candy. Wanna hit a carnival this weekend?โ
- โKim ๐! It was great running into you. Want to grab some coffee soon and catch up?โ
- โI miss you so much ๐ โค๏ธ.โ
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2Send a ๐ emoji to spread the love or have fun. If you want to express some playful, open-minded kindness, throw a ๐ emoji into your text. You can also use this emoji in a kind of loving and supportive way to communicate a hug. Depending on the emojis you pair with it, it can even be a kind of flirtatious! You could try:
- โWanna see some live music with me this weekend ๐ ๐?โ
- โAyyyy! I miss you!!! Letโs hang soon ๐!โ
- โReady to turn up this weekend? I canโt wait to get down ๐ ๐ ๐. โ
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3A ๐ emoji can also represent jazz hands or โplease stop.โ These two open palms can also be used in two sort of opposite ways. In one sense, the two palms can be jazz hands, which you can use to express excitement, sass, or chutzpah. On the other hand, you can also imagine someone holding both hands up as if to say, โCut that out.โ[6] X Research source You might say:
- โWhat do you mean Iโm lame? Iโm the beeโs knees ๐ ๐ ๐.โ
- โIโm burning up the dance floor tonight ๐ ๐ฅ.โ
- โEw. No. ๐ ๐. Cilantro is the best.โ
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References
- โ https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/b/book.htm
- โ https://whatemoji.org/palms-up-together/
- โ https://www.komando.com/social-media/folded-hands-emoji/812419/
- โ https://metro.co.uk/2016/04/15/8-commonly-confused-emoji-and-what-they-really-mean-5814591/
- โ https://www.komando.com/social-media/folded-hands-emoji/812419/
- โ https://metro.co.uk/2016/04/15/8-commonly-confused-emoji-and-what-they-really-mean-5814591/