{{Short description|Symbol used in Japan for affirmation}} {{Hatnote|''{{char|◯}}'' redirects here. For similar symbols, see circle symbol (disambiguation)#Unicode}} {{Multiple issues|{{Globalize|1=article|2=Japan|date=October 2024}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2024}}}} [[File:DualShock 2.jpg|thumb|right|A Sony DualShock 2 controller for the PlayStation 2 game console, with the ◯ button visible on the right. In many games released for the PlayStation console line in Japan until the PlayStation 5, the O mark is used as a means to confirm choices in user interfaces, whereas the X button is used instead in Western releases.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2012-02-10 |title=The Japanese Side of the PlayStation Button Confusion |url=https://kotaku.com/the-japanese-side-of-the-playstation-button-confusion-5883604 |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Kotaku |language=en-us}}</ref>]] A '''circle mark''' ("◯") is often used in East Asia to express affirmation. Its use is similar to that of the checkmark ("✓") in the Western world. Its opposite is the X mark ("✗" or "×").
The symbol's names and meanings vary across cultures. In Japanese it is called '''''marujirushi''''' ({{lang|ja|丸印}}) or '''''maru''''' ({{lang|ja|丸}}) and expresses affirmation. In Korean it is called {{Transliteration|ko|gongpyo}} ({{Korean|hangul=공표|hanja=空標|labels=no|lit=zero mark}}) and expresses affirmation.
==Usage in Japan== Japan interprets the symbol as an affirmation.
Japan employs a number of related symbols (◎ ○ △ ×) in a system that expresses degrees of affirmation. A bullseye "◎" (''nijūmaru''; {{lang|ja|二重丸}}) is often used for "excellent", the circle is a plain affirmation, the triangle "△" (''sankaku''; {{lang|ja|三角}}) means "so-so" or "partially applicable", and the "×" expresses disagreement. This system is widely known in Japan, and thus often used without explanation. Ad-hoc adjustments are usually explained.
{{Anchor|Hanamaru}}The ''hanamaru'' ({{Langx|ja|花丸|lit=flower O mark|label=none}}) is a variant of the O mark. It is typically drawn as a spiral surrounded by rounded flower petals, suggesting a flower. It is frequently used in praising or complimenting children, and the motif often appears in children's characters and logos. The ''hanamaru'' is frequently written on tests if a student has achieved full marks or an otherwise outstanding result. It is sometimes used in place of an O mark in grading written response problems if a student's answer is especially good. Some teachers add rotations to the spiral for exceptional answers.
Two circles ◯◯ (marumaru) are often used as a placeholder - either because a variety of words, names or numbers could be used in that position, or because of censorship.
==Unicode== {{Contains special characters|emoticon|section}}
Unicode provides various related symbols, including:
{| class="wikitable" |- !Symbol ||Unicode code point (hex) ||Name |- |align="center"|<big>○</big> ||U+25CB ||WHITE CIRCLE |- |align="center"|<big>◎</big> ||U+25CE ||BULLSEYE |- |align="center"|<big>●</big> ||U+25CF ||BLACK CIRCLE |- |align="center"|<big>◯</big> ||U+25EF ||LARGE CIRCLE |- |align="center"|<big>{{Emoji presentation|⭕|text}}</big> ||rowspan="2"|U+2B55 ||rowspan="2"|HEAVY LARGE CIRCLE |- |align="center"|<big>{{Emoji presentation|⭕|emoji}}</big> |- |align="center"|<big>{{Emoji presentation|🙆|emoji}}</big> |||U+1F646 ||FACE WITH OK GESTURE |}
{{unichar|2B55|HEAVY LARGE CIRCLE}} has both text and emoji presentations, as shown in the table. It defaults to emoji presentation.
{{Anchor|White Flower emoji}} The emoji {{unichar|1F4AE|WHITE FLOWER}} looks similar to ''hanamaru'', although it represents a rubber stamp commonly used to grade students' written answers and is not usually recognized as ''hanamaru''.
==See also== *{{Ill|○× quiz|ja|○×クイズ}} – true/false quizzes in Japan that use the O mark and X mark *Check mark *Circle *{{annotated link|Geometric Shapes (Unicode block)}} *{{annotated link|PlayStation controller}} *Tic-tac-toe *List of Japanese typographic symbols
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Symbols