Meaning
To feel nervous or anxious, causing one's back to perspire.
Cultural Background
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).
Meaning
To feel nervous or anxious, causing one's back to perspire.
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).
Test Yourself
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.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercises면접이 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.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsNo, 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.
Related Phrases
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.
