Emojis have become a big part of how we talk online and nearly all social media platforms have them present including TikTok. On TikTok, emojis help creators and audience express feelings, grab attention, and even join in on trends. But did you know that not all emojis on TikTok are what they seem?
Asides from the regular emojis you are used to, TikTok has also designed some emojis to be a part of a hidden system popularly referred to as secret TikTok emojis. These special emojis aren’t found on your regular keyboard, but they have unique meanings and can make your interactions stand out when used correctly.
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With Pushbio, you can;
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- Share everything through a single link.
In this guide, you’ll find all TikTok emojis explained, from the fun ones you see every day to the hidden ones that only some users know about. We’ll show you what they mean, how to use them, and why they matter to creators like you.
Why creators use emojis on TikTok
Emojis do more than just decorate your captions; they help your content stand out and connect with your audience. On TikTok, emojis are a smart way to drive engagement, show personality, and join popular trends. From using regular TikTok emojis to adding a few secret TikTok emojis, both can make a big difference in how your content is seen and understood.
Here are four quick reasons creators use emojis on TikTok every day:
- Catch attention quickly
Emojis add color and emotion to your captions, making them more eye-catching when people scroll. - Show personality and tone
You can quickly explain the tone of your content whether you’re being funny, serious, or creative. In simpler terms, emojis help set the right vibe. - Join Trends or inside jokes
Certain emojis become part of TikTok slang or trends, and using them shows you’re in the loop. - Connect with your audience
Emojis make your messages feel more friendly, fun, and human.
Using emojis the right way helps creators build stronger content as well as drive interactions that feel both modern and relatable.
All TikTok emojis explained
TikTok, like other social media platforms, uses the standard set of 3,790 Unicode emojis. These are the emojis everyone on TikTok knows.
That said, not all emojis mean what you think they mean on TikTok. Some regular emojis have taken on new, platform-specific meanings that reflect trends, reactions, and inside jokes among creators and fans.
To give you a better understanding of this, here’s a look at some of the most popular ones:
🪑 Chair
This emoji replaced the traditional laughing emoji. If you see a flood of chairs in the comments, it means people found the content hilarious. It’s a visual stand-in for uncontrollable laughter.
🧠 Brain
Often playful or innuendo-laced, this emoji swaps in for certain suggestive or sarcastic remarks. It’s always best to consider the tone of the post before interpreting its meaning.
🤡 Clown face
A go-to reaction for moments of embarrassment or foolish behavior. It can be self-directed or used to poke fun at others being ridiculous.
🎂 Birthday cake
Used as an alternative to the 🍑 Peach emoji when referring to buttocks, often seen in phrases like “nice 🎂” to imply attraction or humor.
💀 Skull
Represents the phrase “I’m dead,” indicating something is extremely funny. It’s a playful substitute for the ‘😂 Face with Tears of Joy’ emoji, expressing laughter to the point of being overwhelmed.
👁👄👁 Eyes
Conveys being captivated or intrigued by something. This emoji often shows that you’re closely observing content and are fully engaged with what you’re watching.
🧍 Person standing
This emoji reflects an awkward or uncertain stance, typically used to express confusion or hesitation. It can also mimic someone who is just casually passing by in a video or interaction.
🥺👉👈 Bashful Face
Represents shyness or a bashful demeanor. This emoji, which can also be accessed via the hidden TikTok code [wronged], is often used in contexts of timidness or embarrassment.
🥄 Spoon
This one taps into “spoon theory,” a term used by those managing chronic illness or mental health challenges to describe energy levels. Saying you’re “out of spoons” means you’re emotionally or physically drained.
🧢 Billed Cap
A shorthand for “cap,” TikTok slang for a lie or exaggeration. When someone’s stretching the truth, you’ll see this emoji pop up in the comments. Saying “no cap” means you’re being honest.
All TikTok secret emoji codes and what they mean
Asides from the regular emojis available, users of TikTok can also leverage on the platform’s hidden emojis. TikTok has a hidden collection of fun, dumpling-shaped emojis that go beyond the standard set. These secret TikTok emojis add personality and flair to your comments.
There are 46 hidden emojis on TikTok that aren’t available on your standard emoji keyboard. These emojis don’t appear on the regular keyboard, but when you type the right shortcode (like [smile] or [angry]), TikTok displays them as colorful, animated expressions. This makes them perfect for standing out in comment sections, reacting to videos, or just showing a little extra personality.
To help you utilize these emojis, we’ve come up with a detailed breakdown of what these TikTok emojis look like, what they mean, and how to use them effectively.
1. Unique Code: [smile]
Visual: Pink smiling face
Meaning: Happiness or appreciation
Best Use: Commenting to show support or good vibes
2. Unique Code: [happy]
Visual: Peach face with squinty eyes and big smile
Meaning: Extreme excitement
Best Use: When you absolutely love a video
3. Unique Code: [angry]
Visual: Red face with furrowed brow
Meaning: Frustration or anger
Best Use: Reacting to something upsetting or unfair
4. Unique Code: [cry]
Visual: Blue face with tears
Meaning: Sadness or overwhelming emotion
Best Use: For heartwarming or heartbreaking content
5. Unique Code: [embarrassed]
Visual: Teal face with sweat drop
Meaning: Awkwardness or nervousness
Best Use: When you relate to a cringe moment
6. Unique Code: [surprised]
Visual: Peach face with wide eyes and open mouth
Meaning: Shock or amazement
Best Use: Responding to unexpected or wild content
7. Unique Code: [wronged]
Visual: Yellow face with sad eyes and pointed fingers
Meaning: Feeling shy or guilty
Best Use: Expressing a soft, regretful vibe
8. Unique Code: [shout]
Visual: Purple face with fangs
Meaning: Rage or need to vent
Best Use: For extreme reactions
9. Unique Code: [flushed]
Visual: Yellow blushing face
Meaning: Embarrassment or nervous excitement
Best Use: Talking to a crush or reacting to flirty content
10. Unique Code: [yummy]
Visual: Pink face with tongue out, thumbs up
Meaning: Delicious or delightful
Best Use: Reacting to food videos or things you love
11. Unique Code: [complacent]
Visual: Blue face with sunglasses
Meaning: Chill or laid-back attitude
Best Use: Reacting to effortlessly cool content
12. Unique Code: [drool]
Visual: Pink face with hearts and drool
Meaning: Admiration or love
Best Use: For crushes, beauty, or dreamy aesthetics
13. Unique Code: [scream]
Visual: Blue face with hands on cheeks
Meaning: Fear or shock
Best Use: Horror content or jaw-dropping videos
14. Unique Code: [weep]
Visual: Light blue face with single tear
Meaning: Deep sadness
Best Use: When content hits you emotionally
15. Unique Code: [speechless]
Visual: Teal face looking away with sweat drop
Meaning: Frustration or disbelief
Best Use: For awkward, annoying, or shocking moments
16. Unique Code: [funnyface]
Visual: Pink face winking with tongue out
Meaning: Goofiness or playful teasing
Best Use: Light-hearted jokes or silly posts
17. Unique Code: [laughwithtears]
Visual: Pink face laughing with tears
Meaning: Hilarious reaction
Best Use: For the funniest TikTok clips
18. Unique Code: [wicked]
Visual: Purple face with horns
Meaning: Mischievous or sneaky
Best Use: Reacting to bold or risky content
19. Unique Code: [facewithrollingeyes]
Visual: Pink face with eyes rolled up
Meaning: Annoyance or sarcasm
Best Use: Calling out cringe or over-the-top videos
20. Unique Code: [sulk]
Visual: Red face with frown
Meaning: Displeasure
Best Use: When you’re mad or things don’t go your way
21. Unique Code: [thinking]
Visual: Yellow face with hand on chin
Meaning: Confused or curious
Best Use: When questioning something or looking for answers
22. Unique Code: [lovely]
Visual: Pink face blowing a kiss
Meaning: Affection or admiration
Best Use: Flirty comments or appreciation posts
23. Unique Code: [greedy]
Visual: Peach face with dollar-sign eyes
Meaning: Wanting money or stuff
Best Use: For financial wins, deals, or money talk
24. Unique Code: [wow]
Visual: A dumpling with a wide-eyed, surprised expression
Meaning: Expresses shock or amazement
Best Use: Great for reacting to unexpected plot twists or jaw-dropping moments in content
25. Unique Code: [joyful]
Visual: Dumpling with a huge smile and cheerful eyes
Meaning: Total happiness and high spirits
Best Use: Use when celebrating wins or sharing good vibes
26. Unique Code: [hehe]
Visual: Dumpling with a subtle smile and side glance
Meaning: Playful giggle or a cheeky moment
Best Use: Perfect for reacting to low-key jokes or sneaky humor
27. Unique Code: [slap]
Visual: Dumpling with X eyes and a red slap mark
Meaning: Indicates someone got roasted or insulted
Best Use: Use after savage comebacks or shocking comments
28. Unique Code: [tears]
Visual: Dumpling crying rivers of tears
Meaning: Extreme sadness or laughter so strong it makes you cry
Best Use: Ideal for emotional videos or hilarious fails
29. Unique Code: [stun]
Visual: Dumpling with wide eyes, open mouth, and sweat on forehead
Meaning: Total disbelief or panic
Best Use: When reacting to something seriously intense or unexpected
30. Unique Code: [cute]
Visual: Dumpling with big, sparkling eyes
Meaning: Adorable and lovable
Best Use: Add it to pet videos or sweet compliments
31. Unique Code: [blink]
Visual: Winking dumpling with a heart
Meaning: Flirty, teasing, or surprised in a fun way
Best Use: Drop it in comments on clever or romantic content
32. Unique Code: [disdain]
Visual: Dumpling with dark circles and a grumpy look
Meaning: Annoyed or tired of nonsense
Best Use: Great for reacting to irritating or repetitive moments
33. Unique Code: [astonish]
Visual: Grey dumpling with open mouth and furrowed brows
Meaning: Shock mixed with anger
Best Use: Use when you’re beyond surprised like, “Are you serious?”
34. Unique Code: [rage]
Visual: Red dumpling fuming with anger
Meaning: Furious or boiling over
Best Use: Works well when calling out something unfair or outrageous
35. Unique Code: [cool]
Visual: Dumpling wearing shades with bold brows
Meaning: Confident, calm, and collected
Best Use: Use to reply with style or to mark a savage moment
36. Unique Code: [excited]
Visual: Dumpling face laughing hard
Meaning: Joy that’s hard to contain
Best Use: For big wins, funny fails, or anything that makes you LOL
37. Unique Code: [proud]
Visual: Dumpling smirking with eyes looking down
Meaning: Self-satisfaction or a smug vibe
Best Use: Use it when you nailed something or proved your point
38. Unique Code: [smileface]
Visual: Wide-eyed dumpling with a slight smile
Meaning: Playful suspicion or subtle shade
Best Use: Use when someone’s being a little shady or ironic
39. Unique Code: [evil]
Visual: Purple dumpling with tiny fangs and a moody face
Meaning: Mischievous or grumpy but in a fun way
Best Use: Best for playful trolling or dramatic content
40. Unique Code: [angel]
Visual: White dumpling with halo and smile
Meaning: Innocent and sweet
Best Use: When you’re being pure or reacting to kind actions
41. Unique Code: [laugh]
Visual: Dumpling laughing with tears
Meaning: Uncontrollable laughter
Best Use: Add this to hilarious TikTok videos or funny fails
42. Unique Code: [pride]
Visual: Dumpling with kissy lips and a raised brow
Meaning: Smug, confident, or self-loving
Best Use: Use it when flexing or showing off your skills
43. Unique Code: [nap]
Visual: Dumpling with closed eyes and a little nose-drip
Meaning: Sleepy or totally uninterested
Best Use: Great for “I’m over this” vibes or late-night videos
44. Unique Code: [loveface]
Visual: Dumpling with heart eyes
Meaning: Totally in love or obsessed
Best Use: React to romantic content, crushes, or adorable posts
45. Unique Code: [awkward]
Visual: Dumpling with nervous eyes and forehead sweat
Meaning: Embarrassed or unsure
Best Use: When a moment gets too weird or hard to explain
46. Unique Code: [shock]
Visual: Blue dumpling with open mouth and sharp eyes
Meaning: Intense surprise or disbelief
Best Use: Drop this in moments that leave your jaw on the floor
How to use TikTok’s secret emojis?
TikTok’s hidden gems only work in the comments section on the TikTok mobile app (Android or iOS). They won’t show up if you’re browsing TikTok on a desktop or through your browser. To activate these emojis on TikTok, you’ll need to type a special emoji code inside square brackets.
For example, if you want to use the wow emoji, simply type [wow] and TikTok will instantly turn it into the dumpling emoji with a surprised face.
- Open the TikTok app and head to any post’s comment section.
- Type a secret code using square brackets. For instance: [joyful], [tears], or [evil].
- Once you send the comment, TikTok will automatically swap the code for its matching emoji.
These secret TikTok emojis are a fun way to express yourself and stand out in the comment section.
Tips for using TikTok emojis effectively
1. Context matters
When using TikTok emojis, always consider the context. Matching your emoji use with your content or audience can make your posts more relatable. For example, use emojis that resonate with your intent be it humor, beauty, fitness, or any other area. Emojis on TikTok can enhance your message, making it fun and more engaging.
2. Creative combos
Emojis can do wonders when combined creatively. Pair different TikTok emojis to add depth and meaning to your captions. Using a mix of regular and secret TikTok emojis can help communicate emotions or ideas better. For example, a heart emoji with a skull can indicate extreme love for something humorous. Experiment with combinations to create unique and eye-catching content.
3. Less is more
While emojis are fun, using too many can make your message unclear or cluttered. Stick to a few relevant emojis on TikTok to keep the focus on your content. Overusing emojis can distract from your message, especially when using secret TikTok emojis. Choose the ones that truly enhance your post and don’t overpower the text. Sometimes, less really does say more.
4. Consider interpretations
Different emojis have different meanings depending on the culture or context. Be mindful of how your audience might interpret TikTok emojis. While a skull emoji might represent laughter for some, others might find it negative. Stay updated on emoji trends, especially with secret TikTok emojis, to ensure your audience gets the right message.
5. Be aware of emoji trends
TikTok emojis evolve over time. What’s popular today might not have the same impact tomorrow. Stay informed about the latest emoji trends and slang on TikTok. Using the right emojis at the right time can give your content a significant boost. For example, the chair emoji has become a viral symbol for laughter using trending emojis makes your content feel fresh and relatable.
FAQs
What do TikTok emojis mean?
TikTok emojis can have various meanings, from traditional representations like love or laughter to unique, platform-specific interpretations. For example, the chair emoji (🪑) is often used to signify laughter, while the skull emoji (💀) represents extreme laughter, like saying “I’m dead.” TikTok also features secret emojis that have their own meanings.
Are TikTok emojis free to use?
Yes, TikTok emojis are free to use. They come as part of the platform’s emoji set, including standard Unicode emojis and a selection of hidden emojis that you can access by typing certain codes in the comments. Whether you’re using regular emojis or secret TikTok emojis, they are all available to enhance your content at no extra cost.
How do I access secret TikTok emojis?
To access secret TikTok emojis, you need to use the TikTok mobile app (either iOS or Android). In the comment section, type the emoji’s specific code enclosed in square brackets, like [wow] for the “Wow” emoji. Once you enter the code, TikTok will automatically convert it into the hidden emoji.
Can I use TikTok’s hidden emojis in usernames or DMs?
No, TikTok’s hidden emojis cannot be used in usernames or direct messages (DMs). These emojis are specifically designed for use in comments through the mobile app and cannot be inserted into other sections of the platform like usernames or DMs. You can only use them in comments by typing their corresponding codes within square brackets (e.g., [wow]) while engaging with posts.
Final thoughts
Emojis do more than just add fun to your content on TikTok. When used correctly, they can help boost engagement and enhance your TikTok content. With TikTok emojis, you can express emotions, highlight key messages, and even connect with your audience on a deeper level. The fun part is that creators can experiment with TikTok emojis to bring a fresh, creative touch to your posts while staying true to your brand.
