Welcome to the Meme Translate Substack, where we share and explain the hottest memes across Asia.
Memes in this post:
난 울지 않아. 듀아아아 하지. (nan uljianh-a dyuaaahaji)
예쁘니 우나가 듀아아. (yeppeuni unaga dyuaa)
난 울지 않아. 듀아아아 하지. (nan uljianh-a dyuaaahaji)
I don’t cry. I duaaaaaa instead.
Hey meme lovers! 🎉 Today, we're diving into one of the hottest memes sweeping through Asia: "I don’t cry...I duaaaaaa instead!"
You might be asking yourself, what on earth is duaaaaa? Is it the sound of a puppy in distress? Is it a new trend in emotional expression? Well, you’re in for a treat, because duaaaaa is the latest meme sensation, and it’s taking over timelines, from X (formerly Twitter) to KakaoTalk!
The Rise of Ganadi: The Dog Who Makes Duaaaa a Thing
It all started with Ganadi, a lovable dog character from X, who has captured hearts with its adorable onomatopoeia: duaaaa~. Whenever Ganadi is about to cry, it says, "Dew…” (feeling sad) or “Duaaaaa!" (crying sound) as you can see here in this original post on X.
This is an X post of the puppy character (Ganadi) feeling sad and uttering “Dew...":
Source: X - @bdegmr
And this is an X post of the puppy character (Ganadi) crying out loud, “Duaaaaa!"
Source: X - @bdemgmr
It's like a little puppy sobbing its heart out in the most endearing way possible. The character has amassed over 220,000 followers, and it's especially adored by those in their teens and 20s—so if you’re in that age group, you’re probably already well-acquainted with Ganadi’s “sad eyes” and the duaaaa cry.
Why is it so catchy? Because duaaaa turns crying into a cute, exaggerated version of your emotions. No more “heuk heuk” (흑흑, literally “black black”) or “euang” (으앙, a sound imitating a baby's cry) when you're feeling down. Instead, you just go duaaaaa like a sobbing little pup, and it immediately softens the mood.
예쁘니 우나가 듀아아. (yeppeuni unaga dyuaa)
You are pretty. Duaaa!
From Sadness to Adoration: The Versatility of Duaaaa
But hold on—duaaaa isn’t just for sadness! It’s also being used as a positive expression of affection.
Take, for example, this meme featuring K-pop star Kim Woon-hak (김운학) from BoyNextDoor. Fans are using duaaaa to show how much they admire their favorite idols.
Source: X - @woonlil_
You know that moment when you see a picture of your beloved star looking too good to be true? You just type duaaaa and boom, your emotions are conveyed in the cutest way possible!
In fact, some fans have even gone the extra mile, replacing duaaaa with a longer, more exaggerated cry like duaaahhhh to intensify their feelings. It's all about going extra with your feelings, whether you’re crying or adoring someone’s beauty!
Duaaaa: More Than Just a Cry
Besides expressing sadness or love, duaaaa is all about making everyday interactions more fun and cute. Think of it as an Asian version of using “uwu” to express softness or kawaii. Whether you're saying “thank you” or reacting to a funny moment, just tack on a duaaaa at the end, and you’ll have everyone smiling.
The Power of Dew
Here’s a little bonus nugget: If you want to up your duaaaa game, you can add a touch of dew to really show when you're upset! For example, when you're feeling down, just go, “Dew...I’m so tired…” or “Dew...I need to sleep...” It’s like a cute whimper that somehow turns even the most ordinary statements into adorable moments.
So next time you feel overwhelmed or just want to express yourself in a super cute way, remember: duaaaa~. Whether you're in need of a cry or just some playful attention, duaaaa is here to save the day.
Just remember: When you are in the mood for fun, add duaaaa to make things extra cute! 😢💖
Thanks for reading today’s Meme Translate! Each week, we’ll share the most viral and interesting memes from Asian countries like China, Japan and South Korea.
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