ミーム

• Reading: ミーム
• Romaji: mīmu
• Kanji breakdown: From English 'meme,' coined by Richard Dawkins
• Pronunciation: /mī.mu/

Meaning

A meme — a viral joke format, image template, catchphrase, or concept that spreads and evolves across internet communities.

ミーム (from English 'meme') is used in Japanese to describe viral internet humor that follows recognizable formats or templates. While Japan has its own rich tradition of internet humor (2chのコピペ, ニコニコのネタ), the term ミーム specifically gained traction as Japanese users became more connected with global internet culture. Japanese ミーム often blend local references with international formats. The term is most commonly used by younger internet users familiar with platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit.

Examples

1. このミーム海外でも流行ってるみたいだよ。 This meme seems to be trending overseas too.
2. 新しいミームが出るたびについ保存しちゃう。 Every time a new meme drops I can't help but save it.
3. 元ネタ知らないミームの意味がわからなくて困る。 I don't get memes when I don't know the original reference.

Usage Guide

Context: social media, internet culture, casual conversation

Tone: playful, trendy

Do Say

• このミーム面白いから保存した。 (This meme is funny so I saved it.)
• 最近のミームついていけてる？ (Are you keeping up with recent memes?)

Don't Say

• 仕事のプレゼンにミームを入れる (Don't put memes in work presentations unless you're certain of the audience)

Common Mistakes

• Pronouncing ミーム as English 'meem' — in Japanese, it is ミーム (mīmu) with elongated first syllable
• Not distinguishing between ミーム (meme format) and ネタ (joke/material) — ミーム implies a specific replicable format

Origin & History

From English 'meme,' originally coined by Richard Dawkins in 1976 for units of cultural transmission. The internet meaning was adopted into Japanese in the 2010s as global meme culture spread.

Cultural Context

Era: 2010s adoption from global internet culture

Generation: Gen Z and young Millennials

Social background: Internet-savvy users

Regional notes: Used across Japan. Japanese meme culture blends local traditions (2ch humor, ニコニコ動画) with global meme formats.