Korean slang profile
입틀막
ipteulmak
Covering one’s mouth with a hand in surprise or admiration, or that reaction.
Covering one’s mouth with a hand in surprise or admiration, or that reaction.
- Expanded form
- 입을 틀어막다입을 틀어막다 (cover one’s mouth)
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- Sep 23, 2021
- 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
결말의 반전을 보고 나도 모르게 입틀막했어.
The twist at the end made me cover my mouth without realizing it.
02Documented history
03Origin & word formation
A 2021 비즈엔터 article uses ‘입틀막 짤’ (mouth-covering meme image). A 2024 연합뉴스 article expands it as ‘입을 틀어막다’ (cover one’s mouth), explaining that it is usually used in surprising situations. A particular image’s backstory must be distinguished from the word’s origin; who first used the word and when could not be established.
Evidence for the origin explanationMedium
Only usage was confirmed in the 2021 article; the meaning and expanded form were supplemented from a 2024 article. The video audio and subtitles were not checked directly.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- 더콰이엇, '입틀막 짤' 탄생 비화 공개(쇼미더머니 더 히스토리) (비즈엔터)Published Sep 23, 2021Original source checked Nov 13, 2026
- “대체 무슨 말?” '배우 예능'도 외모 비하·신조어 홍수 (연합뉴스)Published Jun 6, 2024Original source checked Nov 13, 2026