Omae wa mou shindeiru is a slang phrase in Japanese that literally means “you’re already dead.”
It’s used as a meme and originates from a manga series called “Fist of the North Star.”
The phrase itself is authoritative, bossy, and disrespectful unless you use it in the context of a joke among people familiar with manga.
You might also come across this phrase as you browse the alcohol aisle, as it’s the name of a shochu – a popular distilled alcoholic beverage.
If you’re interested in Japanese slang and meme terminology, you might’ve come across the phrase “omae wa mou shindeiru” before.
So, you’re probably wondering, “what does it mean, and where does it come from?”
We’ll explain in this in-depth post, so let’s dive in.
Origin of the Phrase Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru
This phrase’s origin comes from a famous Japanese manga (the Japanese version of comics and graphic novels) called Hokuto no ken.
It’s now a very popular meme phrase, but it’s generally considered a harsh and rude sentence to use outside manga fandoms.
The phrase is similar to some of the English-language film catchphrases like “May the Force be with you”, a famous Star Wars catchphrase everyone knows.
Even if you haven’t watched the movies, you’ve probably heard that phrase in popular culture references.
The manga series Hokuto no ken is part of “Fist of the North Star”, which first debuted in 1983 and remained popular all-throughout the eighties until the mid-2000s.
Even to this day, many Japanese people are familiar with the manga series.
The comic’s main character Kenshiro always says the phrase when he kills one of his enemies.
For example, he famously beats his enemies, kills them, and exclaims, “omae wa mou shindeiru”, asserting his superior martial arts fighting skills.
The manga is full of violent scenes, and the main character kills others by quickly flapping his arms and legs with martial arts moves.
“You’re already dead” is an important phrase that marks the point in the story where it’s clear the villains don’t stand a chance against the powerful hero.
Interestingly, the controversial phrase was very popular among school-age children for many years. It was most popular among boys who would be heard yelling “omae wa mou shindeiru” in school hallways.
The Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru Meme
In the 2000s, omae wa mou shindeiru became a meme.
This happened because the “Fist of the North Star” series began to air again, and people took an interest in a character named Kenshiro.
The phrase became a meme, and people posted responses to it called ‘NANI.’ This word just means “what”, but it’s the most common response to “omae wa mou shindeiru”.
Only anime and manga fans use NANI as a response, and it’s not part of Japanese culture outside of the manga fandoms.
What Do The Words “Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru” Mean?
The phrase consists of four basic Japanese words.
Omae is the word for ‘you’ in the male form. In the Japanese language, the words are gendered. This way of saying ‘you’ is rough and kind of rude because it has an aggressive connotation.
The second word, ‘Wa,’ is a verb, and it means ‘being.’ It’s the equivalent of ‘are’ in English.
‘Mou’ translates to ‘already.’
Finally, the word ‘Shindeiru’ means ‘dead.’
Thus, when you put the words together, you get “you are already dead”.
Why Is Saying “Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru” Impolite?
In the manga and anime, this meme is used aggressively because the main character is looking down on others. It is a way to express superiority and has a bossy and negative connotation.
The main character always has a superior and ‘I’m better than you’ type of attitude.
The words in the phrase are also considered more ‘slang’ than polite vocabulary. Therefore, you should never use this phrase in polite society or when speaking to strangers.
The most common use of omae wa mou shindeiru is among fellow manga lovers who are familiar with the series and the cultural context of the words.
In Japanese culture, it’s impolite to use informal language. The words in the manga are informal, thus not suitable for use when having formal conversations.
Also unique is Japanese food culture: Etiquette and table manners when eating Japanese food.
How To Use The Phrase “Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru”
Since omae wa mou shindeiru is an informal way of speaking, Japanese people DO NOT use this phrase in conversations.
While maybe 30 years ago, people would use the phrase in jokes or in manga-related conversations, these days, it’s unlikely to hear it in casual discussions.
In fact, it has fallen out of the common vocabulary.
Some younger people, especially kids, are totally unfamiliar with the manga series and the context of omae wa mou shindeiru. So, it survives among manga and anime fans as well as middle-aged people.
Therefore, you can use the phrase if you find yourself among a group of middle-aged anime fans, or you can use it in a playful context.
However, when you are in a younger crowd, avoid using the phrase because if people aren’t familiar with it, as they consider it offensive.
Shochu – A Japanese Beverage
These days, omae wa mou shindeiru is a type of Japanese distilled alcohol, similar to sake, called shochu.
This drink is akin to vodka, but it can be distilled from all kinds of prime materials, including barley, rice, buckwheat, or sweet potato.
In general, shochu is cheaper than other types of alcoholic beverages, and the hangover is not as bad.
The alcohol’s effects usually wear out after a few hours; thus, it’s popular for parties and company events.
There is a specific shochu brand called “omae wa mou shindeiru,” and the brand uses Hokuto no ken as the face of the drink.
Some of the bottles feature other characters from the beloved manga series.
Each bottle also features popular catchphrases from the series, besides Hokuto no ken’s well-known words.
The drinks are most often gifted on special occasions because this specific shochu isn’t as popular anymore.
If you want to try it, you can order it online in some specialty stores.
It’s a great gift idea for an older manga fan who is more likely to recognize Hokuto no ken.
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