出汗

Using 出汗 is very simple. You usually put it after the person who is sweating. For example, 我出汗了 means 'I am sweating' or 'I started to sweat.' If you want to say you are sweating a lot, add 很多. You would say 我出了很多汗. Notice how the 了 moves between the words? That is a common trick in Chinese grammar. It sounds natural and fluid. Don't worry, even if you mess up the grammar, people will understand you.

Use this when you walk out of a subway station in July. Use it after a long run or a spicy meal. It is perfect for complaining about the humidity in Shanghai. You can also use it during a stressful job interview. If your palms are sweaty, you can say 手心出汗. It is a great way to show you are human. It breaks the ice when everyone is feeling the heat.

Avoid using this in very poetic or romantic settings. It is a bit too 'biological' for a love poem. If you are at a very formal gala, don't announce it loudly. Instead, say you feel 'a bit hot.' Also, don't use it to mean 'hard work' in a metaphorical sense. While English uses 'sweat' for effort, Chinese usually uses 辛苦 for that. Keep 出汗 for the actual liquid stuff.

In China, sweating is often seen as healthy. Many people believe it 'discharges toxins' from the body. You will see older people walking in parks even when it is hot. They want to 出汗 to feel refreshed. Spicy food in places like Sichuan is also meant to make you sweat. This helps cool the body down in damp weather. It is a natural detox method that costs zero yuan.

If you are sweating buckets, use 大汗淋漓. That is a fancy four-word phrase for being drenched. If you are just a little damp, you can say 出了一身汗. This means you have a layer of sweat over your whole body. For 'cold sweat' when you are scared, use 出冷汗. It sounds just as spooky in Chinese as it does in English. Each variation adds a little more flavor to your physical state.