0x3016

0x3016 is the hexadecimal Unicode code point for the character U+3016, named LEFT WHITE LENTICULAR BRACKET. It belongs to the CJK Symbols and Punctuation block and has a partner, U+3017 RIGHT WHITE LENTICULAR BRACKET. Together, these brackets are used in East Asian typography to enclose text, similar in function to quotation brackets in other scripts.

Appearance and usage: The glyphs are large, rounded brackets with a hollow interior, distinct from the solid or tortoise shell variants seen in other brackets. They are typically used as a paired punctuation mark to enclose content and may appear in both vertical and horizontal text layouts. Their use reflects traditional East Asian punctuation practices and they remain a standard part of Unicode punctuation, though they are not common in everyday Western typography.

Encoding and compatibility: U+3016 (and U+3017) are encoded in Unicode and are supported by most modern fonts that cover the CJK Symbols and Punctuation block. In plain text environments, they can be represented with the numeric character references 〖 and 〗 or directly as the characters in systems with Unicode support.

Usage notes: LEFT WHITE LENTICULAR BRACKET and its right counterpart appear in Japanese and Chinese texts, particularly in contexts requiring nested brackets or specific typographic conventions. They are one option among several CJK punctuation marks used to structure quoted or bracketed material.

Related characters include U+3014 LEFT TORTOISE SHELL BRACKET, U+3015 RIGHT TORTOISE SHELL BRACKET, and the left/right black lenticular brackets U+3010 and U+3011.