raised back of hand

The raised back of hand emoji 🤚 is part of the People & Body group in the Unicode emoji standard. Widely recognized in digital messaging, this symbol relates to raised back of hand. People and body emojis represent the human form in all its diversity. This category spans hand gestures, professions, family configurations, and physical activities, making it one of the most socially significant emoji groups in the Unicode standard.

Hand gesture emojis like the thumbs up, waving hand, and folded hands are among the most frequently used emojis in workplace communication. Professional emojis representing different occupations have become popular in social media bios and LinkedIn posts, while family emojis help represent diverse household structures. When using the raised back of hand emoji specifically, consider how it fits within people & body communication patterns on each platform.

This category sees the most variation across platforms due to skin tone modifiers and the complexity of rendering human figures. Apple uses detailed, realistic proportions, while Google tends toward a more cartoonish, approachable style. Microsoft redesigned its people emojis in Windows 11 to use the Fluent design system with rounded, friendly shapes.

The introduction of skin tone modifiers in 2015 (based on the Fitzpatrick scale) was a watershed moment for digital inclusion. Hand gestures carry particularly varied meanings across cultures: the thumbs up is positive in Western countries but can be offensive in parts of the Middle East. The folded hands emoji is interpreted as prayer, gratitude, or a high-five depending on cultural context.