Nuance Dictionary / Overwhelm & Struggle
진땀나다 jin-ttam-na-da
Breaking into a cold, nervous sweat from sheer strain or pressure
What does 진땀나다 mean?
진땀나다 (jin-ttam-na-da) means: Breaking into a cold, nervous sweat from sheer strain or pressure.
The physical tell of being cornered. If your boss asks you a question in a meeting that you have absolutely no answer for, and everyone is staring at you waiting, that's the exact moment you '진땀나다'.
How it's actually used
- 면접관이 뜬금없는 걸 물어봐서 진짜 진땀났어.
myeonjeopgwani tteungeomeupneun geol muleobwaseo jinjja jinttamnasseo.
The interviewer threw a random question at me and I was sweating bullets.
💡 Great for unexpected pressure moments. - 마감 시한 5분 전에 파일 날아갈 뻔해서 진땀 뺐잖아.
magam sihan obun jeone pail naragal ppeonhaeseo jinttam ppaetjana.
I broke into a cold sweat when my file almost crashed five minutes before the deadline.
💡 Often conjugated as '진땀 빼다' for the aftermath of strain. - 교수님이 갑자기 나를 지목해서 질문하는 바람에 진땀났어.
gyosunimi gapjjagi nareul jimokhaeseo jilmunhaneun barame jinnamnasseo.
I broke into a cold sweat because the professor suddenly called on me to ask a question.
💡 Use when you are put on the spot unexpectedly.
Related words in Overwhelm & Struggle
안간힘을 쓰다 an-gan-him-eul sseu-da눈코 뜰 새 없다 nun-ko tteul sae eop-da기진맥진하다 gi-jin-maek-jin-ha-da버겁다 beo-geop-da지치다 ji-chi-da