Well, there’s no way around it. The 😘 emoji is one of the most flirtatious symbols on the emoji keyboard. It is basically the equivalent of someone calling you cute over text.
So, how should you respond when someone sends you a kissy face? Well, it depends on who has sent it to you and the context they’ve sent it in.
Basically, there are three common situations in which someone will send you a kissy face.
The first is if you like someone and they are flirting with you. The second is if you don’t like them and they are flirting with you.
And the third is when a friend or family member who loves you platonically is sending you a symbol of their love.
Obviously, your reaction in each of these situations will be very different.
So here is a run-through of how to respond to a kissy face emoji, depending on the circumstances you find yourself in.
21 ways to respond to the kissy face 😘 emoji
- 😘
- Be careful what you wish for…💋
- 😌
- Are you flirting with me? 😏
- You’re making me blush! 🤭
- So…what are you up to later? 😈
- 😻
- 😍
- 🥰
- ☺️
- I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m not interested in you. I’m going to block you. Please do not contact me again.
- Sorry, I’m not sure what you’re implying with that emoji, but I only see us as colleagues.
- Hey, I got your message. I don’t really understand what you’re trying to say by sending me that emoji. Could you explain, please?
- 🙄
- Never gonna happen…
- No offense, but…nah! 🥴
- What is that supposed to mean?
- Friends for life 💛
- Love you, bro 💙
- Hi! 🙂
- I’ve missed you! It’s been far too long. Let’s get together for a catch-up soon ❤️
How to respond when your crush sends you the kissy face emoji 😘
In the modern language of texting, there is hardly a symbol more indicative of romantic interest than the kissy face emoji. So, if your crush texts you “😘,” you’ve just received the 21st-century equivalent of an invitation to dance at a formal ball.
Basically, receiving the 😘 emoji means that your crush is interested in you. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should throw caution to the wind and profess your love. Instead, continue to play it cool.
Here are a few ways you could respond if your crush sends you a kissy face emoji.
1. 😘
If you see that your crush has sent you a kissy face emoji, you can respond by sending back the same emoji, either with or without words.
Example:
A: 😘
B: Hey there 😘
2. Be careful what you wish for…💋
If you feel like raising the stakes, why not respond with the flirty line, “Be careful what you with for…” and include a more explicit kissy emoji.
This is quite a bold line to take, so only say this if you are really into the person you’re texting.
Example:
A: 😘
B: Be careful what you wish for…💋
3. 😌 (embarassed emoji)
Regardless of who you are texting, it is always a good idea to try to represent your feelings as authentically as you can.
If your crush texts you the 😘 emoji and your predominant feeling is one of embarrassment, send them an embarrassed emoji!
After all, when we text, we’re trying to make our exchange resemble the conversation we would have in person. So, if you would blush in person, blush over text!
Your crush will be sure to find your embarrassment cute.
Example:
A: Hey! 😘
B: Hey 😌
4. Are you flirting with me? 😏
One of the best ways to bring a flirtation-ship out into the open, is to acknowledge what is happening. By teasingly asking your crush whether they are flirting with you, you will embarrass them just the right amount.
After you’ve acknowledged what the dynamic between you is, you can both begin flirting more explicitly.
A: Hello there 😘
B: Are you flirting with me? 😏
5. You’re making me blush! 🤭
If you’re not quite ready to flirt openly yet, simply respond to receiving a kissy face emoji from your crush by telling them that they are making you blush.
Send them the hand-over-mouth emoji to give them a visual of how their text is making you feel.
They will be pleased that the text they sent you is affecting you!
Example:
A: Hey gorgeous 😘
B: You’re making me blush! 🤭
6. So…what are you up to later? 😈
The only reason the kissy face cannot be called the most flirtatious icon on the emoji keyboard is because it is so clearly surpassed by the purple devil.
Ty Dolla $ign even wrote a song called “Purple Emoji,” in which he croons about how the purple emoji with devil horns is short hand for a booty call.
Sending a purple devil emoji is definitely a bold response to a kissy face emoji and should not be used by the faint of heart. However, if you know what you want, there is no shame in pursuing it!
Example:
A: Hi 😘
B: So…what are you up to later? 😈
7. 😻
If you prefer to speak to your crush in cuter way, why not send the cat with heart eyes emoji? This emoji conveys that you feel an innocent excitement about having received your crush’s message.
By choosing not to use one of the more standard emojis, you’re showing off your quirky side.
Example:
A: 😘
B: 😻
8. 😍 (=heart eyes emoji)
Another way to respond to a kissy face emoji, which expresses the same affectionate sentiment but de-escalates the conversation a little, is the heart eyes emoji.
If you’re happy to be texting with your crush but want to keep things casual, the heart eyes emoji is a great option.
Example:
A: Hi 😘
B: Hi 😍
9. 🥰 (= smiling face with hearts emoji)
If you want to show your crush you’re interested in them, but also want to bring the focus of the conversation from the physical aspect of the relationship to the emotional one, you can respond with the smiling face with hearts emoji.
Example:
A: Hi 😘
B: Hi 🥰
10. ☺ (=blushing smiley emoji)️
And finally, if you are interested in your crush, but aren’t quite ready to commit to a full-on flirtation via text, keep things innocent by responding to a kissy face with a blushing smiley.
No shame in reserving judgement on someone until you’ve really had the chance to get to know them.
Particularly if you met because someone sent you a pick-up line on Tinder, it is wise to keep your guard up and not let the tone of the conversation get too intimate before you know what you want.
Example:
A: Hi 😘
B: Hi ☺️
How to respond when someone you don’t like sends you the 😘 emoji
Whether it happens in person or over text, being approached romantically by someone you aren’t interested is not a pleasant experience.
While it is important to always be polite and to let someone down easily where possible, it is also important to protect yourself and to make your boundaries clear to the person who is trying to flirt with you.
Here are a few ways you could respond if someone you are not interested in sends you the 😘 emoji.
11. I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m not interested in you. I’m going to block you. Please do not contact me again.
The worst-case scenario for unwanted flirting is that someone you have rejected continues to approach you.
There is nothing more frustrating than having to go through the effort of thoughtfully and kindly rejecting someone, only for them to pop back up in your inbox as though you’d never said anything.
Not only is their behavior disrespectful, but it is also potentially dangerous. If it doesn’t stop, it will fit the definition of harassment, which is a criminal offense.
So, the best thing to do if someone you’ve already rejected sends you a kissy face emoji, is to clearly repeat that you aren’t interested, tell them you’re going to block them, and then ask them not to contact you again.
Example:
A: Hi sweetie 😘
B: I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m not interested in you. I’m going to block you. Please do not contact me again.
12. Sorry, I’m not sure what you’re implying with that emoji, but I only see us as colleagues.
If someone you work with finds you on social media, slides into your DMs, and sends you a kissy face emoji, you can pre-empt any further advances by telling them you only view them as a colleague.
Example:
A: Hey, you looked great at work today 😘
B: Sorry, I’m not sure what you’re implying with that emoji, but I only see us as colleagues.
13. Hey, I got your message. I don’t really understand what you’re trying to say by sending me that emoji. Could you explain, please?
If you aren’t interested in someone, but don’t want to let them off the hook that easily, why not make them explain what they want from you and what they were trying to achieve by sending you a kissy face emoji?
For flirting to work, it has to be smooth or suave. By forcing someone to explain themselves as though you don’t understand what they were trying to achieve, you are taking away all their swagger.
Example:
A: 😘
B: Hey, I got your message. I don’t really understand what you’re trying to say by sending me that emoji. Could you explain, please?
14. 🙄
If someone you aren’t interested sends you a kissy-face emoji, you don’t have to waste your time carefully crafting the perfect response.
Instead, send an emoji that expresses what you would do in person.
One great emoji to send in cases like this, is the eye-roll emoji.
Example:
A: 😘
B: 🙄
15. Never gonna happen…
How you respond to a kissy face emoji from someone you don’t like will of course depend on how much you don’t like them.
If they are a kind person and you just happen not to be interested in them romantically, then maybe don’t be too harsh.
However, if the person sending you a kissy face emoji has a history of being inappropriate or rude, or if you simply don’t think they are a nice person, you can be a little bit harsher in your response.
Example:
A: Hey, darling 😘
B: Never gonna happen…
16. No offense, but…nah! 🥴
Another way to ward off a particularly unwelcome advance is with a queasy face emoji.
This will make clear, in no uncertain terms, that the sender’s interest is not reciprocated and that you would prefer not to be contacted by them again.
Example:
A: So, when are you gonna come have a drink at my place? 😘
B: No offense, but…nah! 🥴
17. What is that supposed to mean?
Any time you get an unwelcome emoji and want to embarrass the person who sent it, make them explain it!
After all, emojis don’t necessarily have just a single meaning and you are entitled to know what someone who is contacting you is trying to say.
By forcing the person who is texting you to explain themselves, you are taking the wind out of their flirting sails, and they are unlikely to try to message you again.
Example:
A: 😘
B: What is that supposed to mean?
How to respond when a friend or family member sends you the 😘 emoji
While the kissy face is frequently used as an agent of flirtation, it is used equally as frequently by loving mothers, the world over.
Friends too, send each other kissy faces all the time!
So, chances are, aside from your partner if you have one, the most likely people to send you a kissy face emoji are your friends and family.
Here are some cute ways to respond when your loved ones reach out with a kissy face emoji.
18. Friends for life 💛
If a friend messages you to tell you they’re thinking of you, or to show you support during a difficult time, why not respond with a yellow heart emoji?
The yellow heart emoji is frequently associated with platonic love. Sending a heart emoji is a sweet gesture that will show your friend that you miss them and care about them deeply.
Example:
A: Hey, it’s been ages! Sorry for my long absence. I hope you didn’t think I ghosted you. Miss you 😘
B: Don’t worry! We’re friends for life 💛
19. Love you, bro 💙
The blue heart emoji has a reputation for being a symbol of bro love.
If a friend reaches out to you and you want to let them know that you miss and love them, why not opt for a sweet message that expresses your emotions, followed by a blue heart emoji?
Example:
A: Bro, it’s been ages. Miss you! 😘
B: Love you, bro 💙
20. Hi! 🙂
If a cousin, sibling, or distant relative sends you a kissy face emoji, you can respond with a simple greeting and a smiley.
Example:
A: Hello, my dear 😘
B: Hi! 🙂
21. I’ve missed you! It’s been far too long. Let’s get together for a catch-up soon ❤️
If anyone you love platonically pops up in your inbox and sends you kissy face emoji, you can respond by letting them know you miss them and by suggesting getting together for a catch-up.
Follow up this sweet message with a red heart emoji, to show them that they are in your heart.
Example:
A: Hey 😘 Was just thinking about you today and thought I’d reach out. Hang out sometime?
B: I’ve missed you! It’s been far too long. Let’s get together for a catch-up soon ❤️
Hey, it’s me, Steven. Dating and relationships have always fascinated me. On Dategosu, you will find my best tips to make sure your next date is a great success!