Expressing Sadness or Happiness Casually (#6)

 

ぴえん pien is an onomatopoeic word commonly used in text messages, akin to the Pleading Face emoticon.

It conveys feelings of sadness or happiness, though it doesn't carry a sense of seriousness.

The number of 'え's between ぴ and ん can be utilized to convey the intensity of the emotion.

😭ぴえええええーん

Expressions for crying include しくしく泣(な)く shikushiku-naku (weep) and わんわん泣(な)く wanwan-naku (bawl), while crying like a baby is also represented as ぴいぴいぎゃあぎゃあ泣(な)く piipii-gyaagyaa-naku.

Onomatopoeic words for crying are generally written as えんえん en-en, and it's believed that ぴ was borrowed from a baby's cry and changed to ぴえん.

Due to its charming sound, it is also used to express happiness and gratitude for others' actions. Women tend to prefer this expression more than men.

お弁当忘れた！ぴえん
obento wasureta pien

よしよし( *ˊᵕˋ)ﾉˊᵕˋ*)
yoshi-yoshi
わたしの分けてあげるね
watashi no wake te ageru ne

ありがとー！ぴえん
arigato pien

Translationお弁当忘れた！ぴえん: I forgot to bring my lunch. (sadness)
よしよし: There, there. You'll be alright.
わたしの分けてあげるね: Let's share my lunch.
ありがとー！ぴえん: Thanks. (happiness)

It's occasionally used in everyday conversations among young girls and is frequently seen on social media. It has gained recognition among a wide range of age groups.

However, when older men use this expression, they may sometimes be perceived as キモい kimo-i, a term short for 気持(きも)ち悪(わる)い kimochi warui, which means creepy.