もうむり
Meaning: An expression meaning 'I can't anymore' or 'I'm done,' used to convey overwhelm from exhaustion, laughter, cuteness, or stress.
もうむり is the casual hiragana form of もう無理. In texting, writing it in all hiragana makes it feel softer, more emotional, and more dramatic. It can mean genuine exhaustion or be used hyperbolically — when something is so funny, cute, or intense that the speaker feels they can't handle it. Context determines whether it is distress or delighted overwhelm. Extremely common across all social media platforms.
Examples
- 残業5日連続はもうむり。帰りたい。 连续加班五天真的不行了。想回家。Cinco días seguidos de horas extra, ya no puedo más (もうむり). Quiero irme a casa.야근 5일 연속은 もうむり. 집에 가고 싶다.
- この猫の動画もうむりかわいすぎる。 这个猫的视频不行了太可爱了。Este vídeo de gatos, もうむり, es demasiado adorable.이 고양이 영상 もうむり 너무 귀여워.
- 笑いすぎてもうむりお腹痛い。 笑太多了不行了肚子疼。Me he reído tanto que もうむり, me duele la tripa.너무 웃겨서 もうむり 배 아파.
Pronunciation
/mo.ɯ.mɯ.ɾi/
Usage Guide
Context: texting, social media, LINE, Twitter/X
Tone: overwhelmed, dramatic, sometimes humorous
✓ Do Say
- もうむり寝る (I can't anymore, going to bed)もうむり寝る(不行了要睡了)もうむり寝る (No puedo más, me voy a dormir)もうむり 잔다 (더 이상 못 하겠어, 잘래)
- もうむりwww笑いが止まらない (I can't lol I can't stop laughing)もうむりwww笑いが止まらない(不行了哈哈哈停不下来)もうむりwww笑いが止まらない (No puedo más jajaja, no paro de reírme)もうむりwww 웃음이 안 멈춰 (못 하겠다ㅋㅋㅋ 웃음을 멈출 수가 없어)
✗ Don't Say
- 仕事の報告で「もうむり」は書かない (Don't write 'mou muri' in work reports — use 対応が困難です)不要在工作报告中写「もうむり」——应该用対応が困難です仕事の報告で「もうむり」は書かない (No escribas 'mou muri' en informes de trabajo — usa 対応が困難です)업무 보고서에 'もうむり'라고 쓰지 않는다 (対応が困難です를 사용할 것)
Common Mistakes
- Taking もうむり literally as genuine distress when it's being used hyperbolically about something cute or funny
- Using it in professional contexts where もう限界です would be more appropriate
Origin & History
Casual hiragana rendering of もう無理 (mou muri, 'already impossible/can't take it'). The hiragana-only form became standard in texting culture in the 2010s for its softer, more expressive feel.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s texting culture
Generation: All ages, especially teens and 20s
Social background: Universal informal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. One of the most common emotional expressions in casual texting.
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