Korean slang profile

헬린이

hellini

A gym beginner

Someone who has just started working out, especially weight training.

This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.

01Examples, with English translations

Example by Julimmal
헬린이라 아직 기구 사용법도 헷갈려.
I'm new to the gym, so I still get confused about how to use the equipment.
Quoted from a source
헬린이는 ‘헬스+어린이’를 합친 신조어다.[1]
헬린이 combines 헬스, gym-based fitness, with 어린이, child.
English translation by Julimmal.

April 2019헬린이 combines 헬스, gym-based fitness, with 어린이, child.[1]
May 2022EToday: “In addition, there were quite a few children who recognized words that combined ‘~rin’ with certain words, such as ‘골린이’ (beginner at golf) and ‘헬린이’ (beginner at fitness), as derogatory terms.”[2]

Formed from “헬스 + 어린이.” The 2019 source from Edaily explicitly gives this explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.

Evidence for the origin explanationHigh

The explanation is explicit in the sources, and at least two sources use the same meaning. When it was first used is unknown.

Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.