What Japanese phrase meaning "You are already dead" became an internet meme?

The Japanese phrase meaning “You are already dead” is “Omae wa mou shindeiru.”

The phrase is the signature line of Kenshiro, protagonist of the manga and anime Fist of the North Star. Written お前はもう死んでいる, it is typically romanized as “Omae wa mō shindeiru.” Kenshiro often says it after striking an opponent’s pressure points, before the opponent realizes that the fight is already decided.

Fist of the North Star began as a manga in 1983, created by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara. Kenshiro is the successor to the fictional martial art Hokuto Shinken, whose techniques target hidden meridian points. The dramatic pause between the declaration and the enemy’s collapse made the line especially memorable.

The catchphrase became an internet meme during the 2010s and later inspired songs, videos, and gaming references. “Nani?!”—meaning “What?!”—is often paired with it in memes, but it is the surprised reaction rather than the phrase meaning “You are already dead.”