Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
찬물을 끼얹다 Chanmureul kkianhda
To instantly ruin a high-energy, celebratory, or hopeful group vibe with a sudden, pessimistic, or reality-check remark.
What does 찬물을 끼얹다 mean?
찬물을 끼얹다 (Chanmureul kkianhda) means: To instantly ruin a high-energy, celebratory, or hopeful group vibe with a sudden, pessimistic, or reality-check remark.
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How it's actually used
- 다들 분위기 좋았는데 그 한마디로 찬물을 끼얹었어.
dadeul bunwigi jo-anneunde geu hanmadiro chanmureul kkianh-eosseo.
Everyone's vibe was great, but that one comment totally killed the mood.
💡 Shows how a single utterance acts as an instant mood-freezer in a thriving social setting. - 너 또 거기에 찬물 끼얹는 소리 할 거면 그냥 가만히 있어.
neo tto geogie chanmul kkianhneun sori hal geomyeon geunyang gamanhi isseo.
If you're going to say something that kills the vibe again, just stay quiet.
💡 Demonstrates the preemptive warning people use when a notorious realist is about to ruin the moment. - 기쁜 소식에 찬물 끼얹기 싫어서 아까는 말 안 했어.
gippeun sosige chanmul kkianhtgi silh-eoseo akganeun mal an haesseo.
I didn't say it earlier because I didn't want to ruin the celebratory mood.
💡 Reveals self-awareness and social calibration—holding back necessary bad news to protect the group's joy.
Related words in Social Situations
철이 들다 cheori deulda초토화 cho-to-hwa단호하다 Dan-ho-ha-da답장 dapjang뒷북치다 dwit-buk-chida