Korean slang profile
밈
meme
An internet meme
A phrase, image, video, action, or other item that spreads as an internet trend, from the English word “meme.”
- Expanded form
- memeAn internet meme
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- 2019
- 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
그 대사가 밈이 됐어.
That line became a meme.
- Quoted from a source
밈(memes)이란 1976년 출간된 도킨스(Dawkins)의 책 The Selfish Gene에서 처음 사용되는 용어이다.[1]
밈 (memes) is a term first used in Dawkins' book The Selfish Gene, published in 1976.
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
- 1976The Korea Translation Society’s paper explains that ‘밈’ is a term first used in Richard Dawkins’ book ‘The Selfish Gene’ (1976). If genes determine the characteristics of the body, 밈 is a concept that is learned through experience and influences behavior.[1]
- 2019The same paper explains the word created and spread in Internet-centered media as ‘Internet 밈’, which is derived from ‘밈’.[1]
03Origin & word formation
From the English “meme.” A Korean Association of Translation Studies paper attributes the term's first use to Dawkins's 1976 book The Selfish Gene. When its internet-trend meaning entered Korean usage has not been verified.
Evidence for the origin explanationHigh
The academic paper identifies the original source as Dawkins in 1976. When the internet-trend meaning spread in Korea is unknown.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- 유튜브 K-뷰티 콘텐츠 자막 번역 연구 — 번역학연구 제20권 1호 (한국번역학회)Published 2019Original source checked Nov 5, 2026