orz (also known as OTL) is an JAPANESE emoticon used to express one’s feeling of hopelessness in jest, often as a result of failure.
O = head
T = arms to the ground
L = legs
The ASCII-art prototype “＿|￣|○” subsequently spread across the Japanese blogs and forums like Futaba Channel and Nico Nico Douga circa 2002, where it became used as a humorous way of conveying frustration or despair. Soon, the emoticon evolved into other variant formats, most notably OTL and Orz.
Beginning in 2003, The emoticon entered usage on the Korean web through the imageboard site DCInside, where the concept of “orz” quickly evolved into an image macro phenomenon depicting various characters kneeling in remorse with the caption “Despair Not Allowed” (좌절금지). It also began to spread on the Chinese web around the same time, as reported by the Chinese portal site Baidu.
O = head
T = arms to the ground
L = legs
The ASCII-art prototype “＿|￣|○” subsequently spread across the Japanese blogs and forums like Futaba Channel and Nico Nico Douga circa 2002, where it became used as a humorous way of conveying frustration or despair. Soon, the emoticon evolved into other variant formats, most notably OTL and Orz.
Beginning in 2003, The emoticon entered usage on the Korean web through the imageboard site DCInside, where the concept of “orz” quickly evolved into an image macro phenomenon depicting various characters kneeling in remorse with the caption “Despair Not Allowed” (좌절금지). It also began to spread on the Chinese web around the same time, as reported by the Chinese portal site Baidu.
by dullius September 19, 2016
by Mort The History-Fanatic February 22, 2022
Abbreviation for “On the low”
by anonymous August 28, 2022
by sstvngirr January 04, 2017
Max: Yo Tony been selling bruh, he got brought down to the station last night.
Jack: tony, selling? That’s why he’s always OTL.
Jack: tony, selling? That’s why he’s always OTL.
by Callmedaddyplease August 03, 2020
by debinoresu June 11, 2019