Hear-no-evil Monkey Emoji

The hear-no-evil monkey emoji 🙉 depicts a brown monkey covering both ears with its hands, eyes wide open with a concerned or overwhelmed expression. This emoji represents the second of the three wise monkeys from Japanese folklore, specifically Kikazaru, meaning "hear not." The gesture symbolizes refusing to listen to gossip, negativity, or unwanted information, making it a popular choice for expressing the desire to block out drama or uncomfortable conversations.

Platform designs show subtle variations in the monkey's expression and hand positioning. Apple's version features a golden-brown monkey with clearly defined fingers covering the ears, while Google's design uses a slightly more cartoonish style with rounder features. Microsoft's monkey appears more realistic with detailed fur texture, and Samsung's interpretation emphasizes the wide-eyed expression with a lighter brown coloring and more pronounced emotional response.

Social media users frequently deploy this emoji to signal they're ignoring drama or refusing to engage with negativity. On Twitter/X, it's commonly used in replies to controversial posts or when users want to distance themselves from arguments. Instagram users pair it with captions about avoiding toxic people or situations. TikTok creators use it in videos about ignoring haters or blocking out distractions, while WhatsApp and Discord users send it when they don't want to hear about specific topics or gossip.

Encoded as U+1F649 in Unicode 6.0 and Emoji 0.6, this monkey is part of the three wise monkeys trio alongside 🙈 (see-no-evil) and 🙊 (speak-no-evil). Unlike standalone animal emojis, the hear-no-evil monkey specifically conveys intentional avoidance rather than simple animal representation. The shortcode :hear_no_evil_monkey: makes it easily accessible across platforms, and it doesn't support skin tone variations since it represents a specific folkloric character rather than a human gesture.

Use this emoji when you want to politely indicate you're not listening to gossip, drama, or negative conversations without being confrontational. It's perfect for responding to oversharing friends or signaling you're staying out of conflicts. Avoid using it in serious situations where someone needs genuine support, as it might seem dismissive. For quick access to this expressive monkey and thousands of other emojis, users can easily copy and paste from CopyThatEmoji.com for all their digital communication needs.