Click once to copy the classic shrug ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Pick the version made for where you are pasting it (Discord, Reddit, Markdown, HTML, code) so the arm never goes missing, or build your own shrug from different faces and arms.
Last updated:
Discord / Slack/shrug
Windows ¯Alt + 0175
Mac ¯Option + Shift + ,
ツKatakana “tsu”
Paste-safe versions
Pasted as plain text, Markdown shows
Pasted escaped, Markdown shows
Shrug variants
Click to copy. The selected shrug also fills the paste-safe list above.
Build your own shrug
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
What it is made of
Recently copied
Nothing yet.
Everything runs in your browser. Recently copied shrugs are stored only on this device. If ツ shows as a box, your font lacks Japanese characters, but it will still paste correctly.
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How to use the Shrug Emoticon
Copy the classic: press the big ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ button and paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on a Mac).
Choose where you will paste it in “Paste-safe versions”. Discord, Reddit and other Markdown apps need the escaped version so the arm stays.
Check the preview: it shows how plain and escaped text will render after Markdown formatting.
Try a variant from the grid, or open the builder to combine arms, brackets and a face of your choice.
Save it as a shortcut: add the shrug as a text replacement on your phone or computer so typing a word like “shrug” expands it.
Shrug versions by destination
Where you paste it
What to paste
Why
Discord, Reddit, GitHub, Markdown notes
¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
\\ shows one backslash and \_ shows an underscore, so nothing is swallowed or italicized.
Discord or Slack message box
/shrug
Built-in slash command that appends the shrug with correct escaping.
Any Markdown app, exact look
`¯\_(ツ)_/¯`
Inline code is never formatted, but it appears in a monospace box.
Email, Word, texts, X, Instagram
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
No Markdown processing, so the plain version is right.
HTML
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Entities survive any page encoding.
JavaScript, JSON, Python strings
"¯\\_(ツ)_/¯"
Inside quotes a single backslash starts an escape sequence, so it must be doubled.
Why the arm disappears
Markdown gives two characters in the shrug a special job. A backslash means “show the next symbol literally”, and a pair of underscores means “put the text between us in italics”. When you paste ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ into Discord, the backslash is consumed as an escape for the first underscore, so the left arm loses its \ and you see ¯_(ツ)_/¯. Variants with an underscore inside the face, such as ¯\_(•_•)_/¯, can also turn part of the face italic because the remaining underscores form a pair.
The fix is to escape every special character: write \\ for the backslash and \_ for each underscore. The paste-safe list above does this automatically for whichever shrug you select, and the side-by-side preview uses simplified Markdown rules to show what readers will see.
Make the shrug quick to type
iPhone and iPad: Settings › General › Keyboard › Text Replacement, paste the shrug as the phrase and set a shortcut such as shrugg.
Android (Gboard): Settings › Dictionary › Personal dictionary, add the shrug with a shortcut.
Mac: System Settings › Keyboard › Text Replacements. The macron ¯ alone is Option+Shift+comma on the US layout.
Windows: the macron is Alt+0175 on the numeric keypad; Win+. opens the emoji and symbol panel, where 🤷 and many kaomoji live.
Chat apps: Discord and Slack both understand /shrug, which is the fastest option there.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy and paste the shrug emoticon?
Press the large ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ button at the top of this page. The shrug is copied to your clipboard; then paste it with Ctrl+V on Windows or Linux, Cmd+V on a Mac, or long-press and Paste on a phone.
Why does the shrug lose its arm on Discord or Reddit?
Discord and Reddit use Markdown, where a backslash escapes the next character and underscores create italics. In ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ the backslash is eaten as an escape for the first underscore, so you see ¯_(ツ)_/¯. Paste the escaped version ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ instead: the double backslash becomes a visible backslash and both underscores stay literal.
Is there a shrug command in Discord or Slack?
Yes. Both Discord and Slack have a built-in /shrug slash command that appends ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ to your message with the correct escaping. Type /shrug, optionally followed by your text, and press Enter.
What characters make up the shrug?
The classic shrug uses nine characters: the macron ¯ (U+00AF), backslash \, underscore _, opening parenthesis, the Japanese katakana letter ツ (tsu, U+30C4), closing parenthesis, underscore, slash / and another macron. ツ is chosen because it looks like a smiling face.
How do I type the shrug on a keyboard?
There is no single key for it. On Windows, type Alt+0175 on the number pad for ¯ and use a Japanese input method (type tsu in katakana mode) for ツ. On a Mac, Option+Shift+comma gives ¯ on the US layout. The easiest way is to copy it once and save it as a text replacement or keyboard shortcut.
Is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ an emoji?
No. It is an emoticon or kaomoji built from ordinary text characters, so it looks similar on every device whose font has ツ. The actual shrug emoji is 🤷 (Person Shrugging, U+1F937), with 🤷♀️ and 🤷♂️ variants; it is a picture that looks different on each platform.
What does the shrug emoticon mean?
It means “I don't know”, “who knows” or “oh well”: a casual way to show uncertainty, indifference or acceptance. Tone depends on context, so in serious conversations a few words of explanation help it not read as dismissive.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.