View source for O mark

{{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#DualShock 2|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>]]
'''O mark''' is the name of the circle symbol "◯".{{cn|date=October 2024}} It is often used in [[East Asia]] to express [[Affirmation and negation|affirmation]]. Its use is similar to that of the [[tick (check mark)|checkmark]] ("✓") in the [[Western world]]. Its opposite is the [[X mark]] ("✗" or "×").

The symbol's names and meanings vary across cultures. In [[Japanese language|Japanese]] it is called '''''marujirushi''''' ({{lang|ja|丸印}}) or '''''maru''''' ({{lang|ja|丸}}) and expresses affirmation. In [[Korean language|Korean]] it is called {{Transliteration|ko|gongpyo}} ({{Korean|hangul=공표|hanja=空標|labels=no|lit=ball mark}}) and expresses affirmation.

==Regional uses==

=== 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 (target)|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 [[Emoji#Emoji versus text presentation|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 its opposite
*[[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]]