Person Gesturing NO Emoji

The Person Gesturing NO emoji 🙅 means "no," "stop," or "I refuse." It shows a person crossing their arms in an X over their chest, a clear body-language signal of rejection. People use it to decline offers, set boundaries, veto ideas, and mark something as forbidden, in both serious and playful messages.

What Does the Person Gesturing NO Emoji Mean?

The Person Gesturing NO emoji means a firm, clear refusal, expressed through the universal gesture of crossing both arms in front of the body.

The figure on most platforms holds their forearms crossed into an X shape, which reads as "no way," "not happening," or "stop right there." Unlike a simple thumbs-down, which signals disapproval, this emoji communicates active refusal or prohibition. The person is not merely unhappy. They are turning something away.

Its official Unicode name is FACE WITH NO GOOD GESTURE, a legacy label that dates back to its original introduction. Apple and most other vendors now call it Person Gesturing NO, which better describes what the image shows. If you search for the older name, you will find the same character: 🙅.

Quick facts about this emoji

• Codepoint: U+1F645
• Shortcode: :person_gesturing_no:
• Category: People & Body
• Unicode version: 6.0
• Emoji version: 0.6
• Skin tone support: Yes, five modifiers plus the default

How Do You Use the Person Gesturing NO Emoji?

Use the Person Gesturing NO emoji whenever you want to say "no" with a visible, physical gesture instead of plain words.

It works best as a reaction or a punctuation mark at the end of a message. Because the pose is dramatic, it adds emphasis that a text-only "no" sometimes lacks. It can soften a refusal by making it look lighthearted, or it can underline how serious you are, depending on the words around it.

Declining an invitation or offer

When someone asks you to do something you do not want to do, the emoji makes the refusal obvious without sounding cold. It signals "thanks, but no" in a single character.

• Another round of karaoke tonight? 🙅 I'm saving my voice.
• Thanks for the offer, but 🙅 on the extra shift this weekend.

Setting a boundary

The gesture reads as a boundary marker. Writing "no more work emails after 7 🙅" tells people where your limit is, and the image does some of the talking for you.

Rejecting an idea playfully

Friends often use it to veto a suggestion in a joking way, such as shooting down a questionable restaurant choice or a bad haircut idea. In group chats it works as a fast, expressive vote against.

What Does 🙅 Mean in Texting and on Social Media?

In texting and on social media, 🙅 usually means "absolutely not," "I'm out," or "that's not happening," and tone is set by the surrounding words.

On its own, a lone 🙅 sent as a reply is a blunt "no." Paired with a smile or a joke, it becomes teasing. Some users also attach it to captions that reject a trend, a habit, or a type of behavior, for example "ghosting 🙅" or "fast fashion 🙅."

As a "red flag" or "not for me" marker

Creators often list things they dislike or refuse to tolerate using the emoji as a bullet. A post titled "dating rules" might include lines like "no replies for days 🙅" to make the dealbreakers stand out visually.

As playful drama

Because the pose looks theatrical, the emoji can express exaggerated refusal. Saying "I will not be waking up at 5 a.m. 🙅" is funny precisely because the gesture feels bigger than the request.

Example captions

• Monday meetings that could have been emails 🙅
• Nope, I'm not sharing my fries 🙅🍟

How Is It Different From the Frowning and Pouting Emojis?

The Person Gesturing NO emoji expresses a decision to refuse, while the frowning and pouting emojis express a mood.

The Person Frowning emoji shows sadness, disappointment, or worry. The Person Pouting emoji shows irritation or sulking. Neither one carries the clear action of rejecting something. If you want to say "I am unhappy about this," choose a frowning or pouting figure. If you want to say "I will not do this" or "do not do that," 🙅 is the better fit.

These emojis do sit in the same neighborhood of the People & Body category, which includes many figures that show gestures and emotions. You can browse them all on the People & Body emoji category page. Gendered versions of the nearby frowning and pouting figures are also available, including the Man Frowning, Woman Frowning, Man Pouting, and Woman Pouting emojis.

Which Emojis Pair Well With 🙅?

Emojis that name the thing being refused pair best with 🙅, because the gesture supplies the "no" and the second emoji supplies the subject.

• 🙅 + 🚫: a double-strength prohibition, useful for rules and warnings.
• 🙅 + 😤: a refusal with attitude, as in "not doing that again."
• 🙅 + 😂: a laughing "no way," good for jokes.
• 🙅 + 📵: no phones, no screens, or no calls.
• 🙅 + 🍕: turning down food, whether in a diet joke or a real refusal.

Keep combinations short. One or two emojis beside the gesture keep the message crisp, while a long row of them tends to blur the point.

How Does the Person Gesturing NO Emoji Look on Different Platforms?

The emoji looks broadly similar on every major platform: a figure with crossed forearms in an X, though the style, outfit, and hair differ by vendor.

Support is wide and long-standing. Apple shows it on iOS 6.0 and later and macOS 10.7 and later. Google supports it on Android 4.3 and later, Microsoft on Windows 8.0 and later, and Samsung on One UI 1.0 and later. WhatsApp displays it from version 2.17, and Twitter renders it through Twemoji 1.0 and later. Because the character has been part of Unicode since version 6.0, it will appear correctly on virtually any modern device.

The exact artwork varies, so a friend might see a slightly different face or clothing style than you do. The meaning stays the same, because the crossed-arm pose is the core of the image.

Skin tone options

This emoji supports skin tone modifiers. After inserting the default yellow version, you can long-press it on most phones or open the skin tone picker on desktop to select light, medium-light, medium, medium-dark, or dark. Choosing a tone that matches yours can make a personal message feel more natural.

When Should You Avoid the Person Gesturing NO Emoji?

Avoid the Person Gesturing NO emoji when a firm refusal could feel rude, dismissive, or unclear in context.

In a formal or sensitive exchange, such as replying to a manager, a client, or someone who has just shared bad news, a bare 🙅 can feel curt. Words carry more care. You can still use the emoji, but pair it with a polite explanation so it does not seem like a slammed door.

It can also confuse readers when the context is vague. A solo 🙅 in response to a question like "Did you finish?" could mean "no, I did not" or "please stop asking." If clarity matters, add a few words.

Finally, remember cultural and personal differences in how gestures are read. Crossed arms mean refusal in many places, but some people read the pose as stubborn or defensive. When in doubt, add a friendly tone marker like a smile or a short explanation.

How Do You Copy and Paste the Person Gesturing NO Emoji?

You can copy the Person Gesturing NO emoji with one click on this page and paste it anywhere that accepts text.

Click the emoji 🙅 at the top of the page to copy it instantly to your clipboard. Then paste it into your message, caption, document, or chat using your usual paste shortcut. It works the same way in email, social media posts, messaging apps, and notes.

If you want to build a whole sentence around it, try the Emoji Translator to turn text into emojis. To see which emojis people are reaching for right now, check the trending emojis page.