“用标点符号或其他键盘字符来表现面部表情的图像化表达”，这个词在1992年出现，显然是由 emotion（情感）和 icon（图标）组合而成的。
An emoticon is an emotional icon, or a pictorial representation of the emotions of the moment. These are most commonly created on one line using the symbols on the keyboard. Humor is often denoted with the smiley face :-) which is more obvious if you tilt your head to the left. ["Acronyms, Emoticons, and Lurkers," PC Magazine, August 1992]
表情符号是一个 emotional icon，即当下情感的图像化表达。这些符号通常在一行中使用键盘上的字符创建。幽默通常用笑脸 :-) 来表示，如果你把头向左倾斜，这个符号会更明显。[“首字母缩略词、表情符号与潜水者”，《PC杂志》，1992年8月]
