Korean slang profile
덕질
deokjil
Being an enthusiastic fan
Devoting time and enthusiasm to a person, subject, or interest you love.
- Expanded form
- Not documented
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- Jan 28, 2018
- Documented trend period
- Not verified
This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.
01Examples, with English translations
- Example by Julimmal
퇴근하고 덕질하는 게 요즘 낙이야.
These days, spending time on my fandom after work is what I look forward to.
- Quoted from a source
덕질’(심취한 분야에 열성적으로 몰두하는 일)[1]
덕질’ (passionately immersing oneself in a field one is passionate about)
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
03Origin & word formation
A combination of 덕 and 질 seems possible, but no source directly explaining that formation was found. The 2018 Yonhap News article only explains the meaning.
Evidence for the origin explanationLow
The meaning is supported, but no source here explains how the word was formed. Earlier evidence has not been verified either.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- [단독 인터뷰] 방탄소년단 "우리도 '덕질'해봤죠…'아미' 마음 공감"③ (연합뉴스)Published Jan 28, 2018Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
- 일코? 덕밍아웃? '그녀의 사생활' 덕후 용어 사전 공개 (일간스포츠)Published Apr 5, 2019Original source checked Nov 5, 2026