※

See also: ⁜, ፠, and 𠂭

※ U+203B, ※ REFERENCE MARK ← › [U+203A] General Punctuation ‼ → [U+203C]

Japanese

Glyph origin

Likely derived from the 米 (“rice, uncooked rice”) character. Used on signage for rice sellers.

Punctuation mark

※

1. similar in function to an asterisk or bullet point

Usage notes

In Japanese, it is called the 米印 (komejirushi, literally “rice mark, rice symbol”) because it looks like 米 (kome), the kanji for uncooked rice.

See also

• ＊

Korean

Punctuation mark

※

1. A reference mark used at the beginning of a note.

Usage notes

Known variously in Korean as the 참고표(參考標) (“reference mark”) or 당구장표(撞球場標) (“billiard-table mark”).

Urdu

Punctuation mark

※ • (¶)

1. A character used to separate paragraphs.