Overview
Interpretation
Overall mood and nuance
The kaomoji (*/ω＼) expresses intense shyness, fluster and a bit of playful panic. It looks like someone who is so embarrassed that they literally want to hide their face, yet they are also smiling and secretly happy inside. The slash and back-slash on each side resemble arms or hands coming up to cover the cheeks, while the ω in the middle feels like a tiny, squeezed mouth trying to contain all the emotions at once. The overall mood is like saying: don’t look at me, but I’m actually delighted.
This kaomoji often appears when someone is teased about their crush, receives bold compliments, reads or writes something a bit too romantic, or feels exposed by a cheesy scene in anime, drama or fanfic. Compared to softer shy faces, (*/ω＼) is more dramatic and high-energy: less quiet happiness, more frantic blushing and hiding.
Visual structure
- The outer parentheses ( ) form the round outline of the head.
- The asterisk * on the left and the slash / can be read as a hand or arm lifting up toward the face, like covering one side in embarrassment.
- The small ω in the center acts as the mouth, a classic cat-like or pouting shape that suggests flustered, squished emotion.
- The full-width back-slash ＼ and the closing parenthesis ) on the right mirror the left side, completing the gesture of hiding the face with both hands.
Together, they create a vivid picture of a character turning away, covering their face and squealing internally from embarrassment.
Typical usage scenes
You can use (*/ω＼) in many high-shyness, high-fluster situations:
- When friends tease you about someone you like or ship you with someone.
- After you send or receive a risky, romantic or slightly embarrassing message.
- Reacting to very sweet, cheesy or too much romantic moments in shows, comics or fan works.
- When you are thankful for a compliment but feel it is too strong and you can’t handle it.
- To dramatize your shy reaction in fangirl or fanboy style conversations, especially around idols, VTubers, or favorite characters.
In short, (*/ω＼) is the perfect kaomoji for the feeling of screaming and hiding behind your hands because you are way too shy right now.
Usage guide
Tips
How to use (*/ω＼) naturally
Use (*/ω＼) when you want to show strong shyness, fluster, or second-hand embarrassment in a playful, anime-style way. It is perfect for situations where you feel exposed or teased, but in a fun and affectionate context rather than something truly painful or mean. Think of it as screaming into your hands because something is too much for your heart.
When to use
- Being teased about a crush or ship
When friends connect you with someone or ask if you like them, you can answer with a shy denial plus (*/ω＼). - Reacting to bold compliments or love confessions
If someone praises you in a very direct, romantic way, this kaomoji shows that you are overwhelmed and blushing. - Watching or reading cheesy romance
Use it while live-reacting to anime, dramas or fanfics that are sweet to the point of embarrassment. - After sending a risky or vulnerable message
When you sent something honest or flirty and now feel shy about it, (*/ω＼) captures that why did I send that energy. - Fangirl or fanboy moments
Great for screaming about your oshi, bias, or fictional crush when they do something unexpectedly cute.
Example snippets
- Don’t ship me with themmm (*/ω＼)
- Your message was way too sweet, I’m blushing so hard (*/ω＼)
- That scene was so cringe but also so cute (*/ω＼)
Tips and notes
- Best used in casual or fandom contexts; avoid in very formal conversations or serious topics where dramatized shyness might feel inappropriate.
- Because it is quite expressive, use it sparingly so it still feels impactful when you do send it.
- If the other person is truly upset or hurt, prioritize clear, sincere words before adding playful kaomoji like (*/ω＼).
Usage examples
Real conversation samples that feature this kaomoji.
Example 1
Example 2