Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this phrase to describe the physical sensation of being extremely nervous or anxious in a high-pressure situation.
- Means: To feel so nervous that your back starts to sweat.
- Used in: Job interviews, difficult exams, or scary moments.
- Don't confuse: With sweating because of hot weather or exercise.
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
To feel nervous or anxious, causing one's back to perspire.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
In Korean dramas, you will often see a close-up of a character's neck or back with a single drop of sweat to show they are lying or in trouble. The concept of 'Cold Sweat' ({식|冷}은{땀|汗}) is shared across China, Japan, and Korea, originating from traditional medicine where sweat is linked to heart energy. In the 'Pali-pali' culture, making a mistake that delays a project is a common reason to use this phrase. The extreme pressure of the Suneung (CSAT) exam makes this a very common phrase among high school students.
Use with '식은땀'
If you want to sound even more native, say '식은땀이 {등|背}줄기를 타고 흘렀어요' (Cold sweat ran down my spine).
Don't use for heat
If it's 35 degrees outside, just say '너무 더워요' (It's too hot).
Use with '식은땀'
If you want to sound even more native, say '식은땀이 {등|背}줄기를 타고 흘렀어요' (Cold sweat ran down my spine).
Don't use for heat
If it's 35 degrees outside, just say '너무 더워요' (It's too hot).
खुद को परखो
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence about a job interview.
면접이 너무 어려워서 {___}에 {___}이 났어요.
The idiom for being nervous is '{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나다'.
Which situation is the MOST appropriate for using this phrase?
다음 중 '{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나다'를 쓰기 가장 좋은 상황은?
This phrase is used for psychological tension or anxiety, like waiting for exam results.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
가: 어제 첫 데이트 잘 했어? 나: 아니, 너무 긴장해서 {________________}.
Being nervous on a first date is a perfect context for this idiom.
🎉 स्कोर: /3
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अभ्यास बैंक
4 अभ्यास면접이 너무 어려워서 {___}에 {___}이 났어요.
The idiom for being nervous is '{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나다'.
다음 중 '{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나다'를 쓰기 가장 좋은 상황은?
This phrase is used for psychological tension or anxiety, like waiting for exam results.
가: 어제 첫 데이트 잘 했어? 나: 아니, 너무 긴장해서 {________________}.
Being nervous on a first date is a perfect context for this idiom.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
3 सवालNo, it's almost always for negative tension, anxiety, or fear.
Yes, it's a very common way to humbly describe how nervous you were during a task.
'긴장하다' is the verb 'to be nervous'. '{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나다' is a more descriptive idiom for that feeling.
संबंधित मुहावरे
식은땀이 나다
synonymTo break out in a cold sweat.
손에 땀을 쥐다
similarTo be in great suspense (literally: to hold sweat in one's hands).
간이 콩알만 해지다
similarTo be terrified (literally: one's liver becomes as small as a bean).
가슴이 두근거리다
builds onOne's heart is thumping.
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
Job Interview
Interviewer: 우리 회사에 왜 지원했나요?
Applicant: (너무 긴장해서) 아... 그게... (속으로: {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나네...)
First Date
Friend: 어제 데이트 어땠어?
Me: 너무 떨려서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났어. 무슨 말을 했는지 기억도 안 나.
Driving Test
Instructor: 자, 이제 평행 주차 해보세요.
Student: 네... (핸들을 잡은 손이 떨리고 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 난다.)
Sending a Wrong Text
Me: 헐, 부장님 욕을 부장님한테 보냈어! {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나!
Friend: 대박... 너 이제 어떡해?
Public Speaking
Colleague: 발표 잘 끝냈어요?
Me: 네, 그런데 긴장을 너무 해서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 다 났어요.
Watching a Scary Movie
A: 이 영화 진짜 무섭다.
B: 맞아, 나 지금 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of a 'Backpack' full of 'Ice' that melts into 'Sweat' when you get 'Scared'.
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine standing on a stage with a giant spotlight on you. You realize you forgot your pants. Suddenly, you feel a cold trickle of water running down your spine. That's {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나다.
Rhyme
긴장하면 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}, 무서우면 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}!
Story
Min-su is at a job interview. He is wearing a nice suit. The interviewer asks, 'Can you speak 5 languages?' Min-su only speaks one. He feels his heart beat fast. Suddenly, his shirt feels sticky against his back. He thinks, 'Ah, {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나요!'
In Other Languages
English has 'to break out in a cold sweat.' Japanese uses 'Hiyase' (cold sweat). Both link the physical sensation of sweating to the emotion of fear or anxiety.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Next time you feel slightly nervous (even just playing a video game), say out loud: '와, {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나네!'
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week after a high-pressure event in your own life.
उच्चारण
The 'ㅁ' in '땀' carries over to the '이'.
Simple flat tones.
औपचारिकता का स्तर
발표 중에 너무 긴장하여 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났습니다. (Post-presentation reflection)
발표할 때 너무 떨려서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났어요. (Post-presentation reflection)
발표하는데 진짜 {등|背}에 {땀|汗} 나더라. (Post-presentation reflection)
발표 때 쫄아서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗} 오지게 났음. (Post-presentation reflection)
The phrase stems from the physiological observation that intense fear triggers the sympathetic nervous system, causing sweating even when the ambient temperature is cool. In agricultural Korea, sweating was associated with hard work in the sun, but 'back sweat' while sitting still was a clear sign of internal turmoil.
रोचक तथ्य
There is a similar phrase '손에 {땀|汗}을 쥐다' (to hold sweat in hands), but it's used for spectators, while '{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나다' is for the person actually in the situation!
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
In Korean dramas, you will often see a close-up of a character's neck or back with a single drop of sweat to show they are lying or in trouble.
“A character being interrogated by the police.”
The concept of 'Cold Sweat' ({식|冷}은{땀|汗}) is shared across China, Japan, and Korea, originating from traditional medicine where sweat is linked to heart energy.
“Using hanja roots like 汗 (sweat) in all three languages.”
In the 'Pali-pali' culture, making a mistake that delays a project is a common reason to use this phrase.
“'서류를 잘못 보내서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났어요.'”
The extreme pressure of the Suneung (CSAT) exam makes this a very common phrase among high school students.
“Students describing the atmosphere in the exam hall.”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
살면서 가장 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났던 순간은 언제예요?
면접 볼 때 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 난 적이 있어요?
सामान्य गलतियाँ
더워서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났어요. (When you mean you were nervous)
긴장해서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났어요.
L1 Interference
{등|背}에 {땀|汗}을 했어요.
{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났어요.
L1 Interference
{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 왔어요.
{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 났어요.
L1 Interference
기뻐서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나요.
기뻐서 가슴이 벅차요.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
To break out in a cold sweat
English focuses on the 'cold' sensation, Korean focuses on the 'back' location.
冷や汗をかく (Hiyase o kaku)
The verb used for sweating differs (kaku vs. nada).
捏一把汗 (Niē yī bǎ hàn)
Chinese focuses on the hands, Korean phrase here focuses on the back.
Sudar la gota gorda
Spanish is more about effort; Korean is more about pure anxiety.
Avoir des sueurs froides
French uses 'avoir' (to have) while Korean uses 'nada' (to occur).
In Schweiß ausbrechen
German is more general; Korean specifically points to the back for emotional stress.
يتصبب عرقاً (Yatasabbabu 'araqan)
Focuses on the 'dripping' action rather than the location.
Suar frio
Focuses on the temperature of the sweat.
Spotted in the Real World
“식은땀이 나네...”
During the honeycomb (Dalgona) challenge when he realizes the difficulty.
“발표 준비하면서 {등|背}에 {땀|汗} 좀 났겠는데?”
Commenting on a subordinate's hard work and nerves for a big presentation.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Learners think it's the same as '땀이 나다'.
'흘리다' is more active (to shed/spill), while '나다' is more passive (to occur).
Contains the word 'sweat' (땀).
This means 'blood, sweat, and tears'—extreme hard work, not nervousness.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (3)
No, it's almost always for negative tension, anxiety, or fear.
usage contextsYes, it's a very common way to humbly describe how nervous you were during a task.
practical tips'긴장하다' is the verb 'to be nervous'. '{등|背}에 {땀|汗}이 나다' is a more descriptive idiom for that feeling.
basic understanding
