How can I get python ''.encode('unicode_escape') to return escape codes for ascii?

Question

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I am trying to use the encode<\/code> method of python strings to return the unicode escape codes for characters, like this:<\/i>

>>> print( 'ф'.encode('unicode_escape').decode('utf8') )
\u0444

Answer 1

ord can be used for this, there is no need for encoding/decoding at all:

>>> '"\\U{:08x}"'.format(ord('f'))  # ...or \u{:04x} if you prefer
'"\\U00000066"'
>>> eval(_)
'f'

Answer 2

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You'd have to do so manually;<\/i>

import re

def unicode_escaped(s, _pattern=re.compile(r'[\x00-\uffff]')):
    return _pattern.sub(lambda m: '\\u{:04x}'.format(
        ord(m.group(0))), s)