絵文字

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 絵文字 is read as えもじ and is a noun for a pictorial symbol, covering both modern emoji in messages and pictograms in older records.
• Basic usage: Use 笑顔の絵文字を付ける for adding an emoji and 絵文字の意味を調べる for investigating a pictogram’s meaning.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Modern emoji and historical pictogram
  • The smiling symbol is an emoji, while the older record uses a pictogram; period and medium determine the natural English term.
• Contrast with 顔文字
  • 絵文字 is a pictorial symbol and is not limited to 顔文字, faces assembled from ordinary text characters.