Hug emoji
Two hugs: 🫂 for comfort and grief, 🤗 for warm open arms. Copy them here and see which one a message needs.
Published · Updated
Two hug emoji, two different hugs
🫂 (people hugging) is two grey figures embracing, added in Emoji 13.0 (2020) during a year when a lot of people could not hug anyone. It is the comfort hug: grief, support, “I’m here”, “sending a hug”. 🤗 (smiling face with open hands, usually called the hugging face) is older and warmer in tone: open arms, a welcome, “come here”, and sometimes jazz hands. It is the hug you send with good news, not bad.
Facebook’s “care” reaction, a face cradling a heart, was introduced in 2020 and looks like a cousin of 🤗; it is a Facebook graphic, not an emoji, which is why searches for a “care emoji” end up here. The nearest standard characters are 🤗, 🫂 and ❤️🩹, the mending heart from the broken heart guide.
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| people huggingU+1FAC2 | Comfort, condolence, “sending a hug” | Newer; may not render on old devices; grey figures look sombre | |
| smiling face with open handsU+1F917 | Warm welcome, open arms, excitement | Can look like jazz hands | |
| heart handsU+1FAF6 | Love and appreciation | See the heart hands guide | |
| mending heartU+2764 U+FE0F U+200D U+1FA79 | Healing, support | ZWJ sequence | |
| handshakeU+1F91D | Solidarity, a deal | See the handshake guide |
Which hug to send
- Bad news: 🫂 with words. “I’m so sorry 🫂.”
- Good news or a greeting: 🤗. “Welcome back 🤗.”
- Missing someone: either; 🤗 feels lighter.
- Long-distance support: “virtual hug 🫂” is a set phrase now.
Why is the hug emoji blue?
The people hugging emoji 🫂 is often called the “blue hug emoji” because its two figures are shaded blue-grey. This is the default colour for person-symbol emoji when no skin tone is chosen; it is a neutral silhouette, not meant to represent any particular person. The hugging face 🤗, by contrast, is yellow like most smileys.
So when someone asks what the blue hugging emoji means, they are usually referring to 🫂. Some platforms render the figures slightly differently—sometimes more grey, sometimes with a hint of blue—but the meaning stays the same: comfort, support and a warm embrace.
There is no separate blue hug emoji in Unicode; the colour is just part of the design. If you are looking for a blue-themed way to send a hug, you could pair 🫂 with a blue heart 💙, but the hug itself is already blue enough.
Cuddle, snuggle, squeeze and other hug synonyms
There is no dedicated cuddle emoji or snuggle emoji in Unicode. For a cosy, affectionate hug, most people use either 🫂 or 🤗. 🤗 feels softer and friendlier, while 🫂 feels more protective. If you want a “cute hug”, try pairing 🤗 with a heart: 🤗❤️ or 🤗💕.
“Warm and fuzzy” is exactly the feeling 🤗 is designed to convey—open arms, a smiling face, a bit of excitement. For a “sympathy hug”, on the other hand, 🫂 is the better choice because its tone is more subdued and comforting.
An “air hug” is a virtual hug sent from a distance, like “sending a hug” or “virtual hug”. Both 🫂 and 🤗 work, and 🫂 is often used for long-distance comfort. To “squeeze” someone is simply an enthusiastic hug, often written with an exclamation mark or extra emoji: “Sending you the biggest squeeze 🫂🤗”.
Chat examples
Real messages with 🫂, and a reply that fits.
rough day 🫂
sending hugs 🤗
miss you 🤗
hugs soon 🫂
you did great 🤗
🥹 thank you
Questions people ask
What does 🤗 mean?
Smiling face with open hands: a warm welcome, open arms or an excited “come here”. It is a friendly, upbeat hug.
What does 🫂 mean?
People hugging: comfort and support. It is the emoji for condolences and hard days.
Is there a “care” emoji?
Not in Unicode. Facebook’s care reaction is a platform graphic. 🤗 or 🫂 are the standard equivalents.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
