흑우

Meme Name: Heugu (흑우)

Heuk-oo (pronounced like "heuk" as in "book" with a 'k' sound, followed by "oo" as in "moon").

The '흑우' (heugu) meme originated when the word '호구' (hogu), meaning "sucker" or "pushover," was filtered on certain online communities. It first transformed into '혹우' (hogu), which has a similar pronunciation, and then into '흑우' (heugu). Initially, it was mainly used in gambling-related communities, such as those for sports betting. Its usage significantly expanded around 2017 with the cryptocurrency investment boom, particularly within crypto communities. Subsequently, it became a widely popular internet slang term, replacing '호구' in various online communities, including DC Inside.

'흑우' (heugu) literally means "black cow," but as an internet meme, it's a slang term primarily referring to a naive person who is easily exploited by others, essentially a 'hogu'. It is especially used to mock or self-deprecatingly refer to people who have lost money or failed to earn properly in activities like gambling, stock trading, or cryptocurrency investments.

Its meaning has gradually expanded to include people who spend a lot of money on games with pay-to-win elements (like gacha or loot boxes) but fail to get desired items or characters, those who impulsively buy expensive goods, and even people who voluntarily enlist for active duty in the military, often used in a self-deprecating way. There are also derived terms: games where these '흑우' gather are called '외양간' (oeyanggan, "cowshed"), and in-game paid currency or reward items are referred to as '여물' (yeomul, "fodder") or '사료' (saryo, "feed").

It is widely used among young people, primarily from their late teens to their thirties, especially by both men and women interested in speculative activities like online gaming, stock trading, and cryptocurrency investments. It tends to be actively used among users of internet communities like DC Inside, as well as by game YouTubers, streamers, and their viewers.

• "The stock is soaring, no 'heugu' hasn't gotten in yet, right~? burp lolololol"
• "Bitcoin hit rock bottom and is now soaring, no 'heugu' hasn't gotten in yet, right? burp"
• "(Looking at a single-digit probability) This is practically a steal, isn't it?" (Self-deprecatingly calling oneself a 'heugu')
• "No 'heugu' hasn't gotten a COVID test yet, right?"
• "No 'heugu' hasn't tried this food yet, right?"

While '흑우' has a somewhat milder tone compared to other derogatory terms like '개돼지' (gaedwaeji, "pigs and dogs"), it still carries a nuance of mocking or belittling the other person. Therefore, it is appropriate to use it in informal settings or among close friends in a lighthearted, joking manner. However, its use should be refrained from in formal situations or when it might cause offense to others. In particular, using it to ridicule someone's investment failures or unfortunate circumstances can be a significant breach of etiquette.