Nuance Dictionary / Sounds & Sensations
조마조마 jo-ma-jo-ma
The heart-fluttering, stomach-dropping anxiety of waiting for a verdict you cannot control.
What does 조마조마 mean?
조마조마 (jo-ma-jo-ma) means: The heart-fluttering, stomach-dropping anxiety of waiting for a verdict you cannot control.
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How it's actually used
- 결과 나오는 데 1주일 걸린다는데, 그때까지 조마조마해서 어떻게 기다리냐.
gyeolgwa naoneun de il-jubil geollindaneunde, geuttaekkaji jomajomahaeseo eotteoke gidarinya.
They say it takes a week for the results to come out, how am I supposed to wait feeling this anxious until then?
💡 Captures the agonizing stretch of time between taking the test and hearing your fate. - 합격자 발표 확인하는 순간 너무 조마조마해서 심장이 터지는 줄 알았다.
hapgyeokja balpyo hwakhin-haneun sungan neomu jomajomahaeseo simjangi teojineun jul aratta.
The moment I checked the successful applicants list, I was so jittery I thought my heart would burst.
💡 Pairs the word with a classic hyperbolic physical reaction to show peak suspense. - 로또 번호 맞추어 보는 동안 조마조마해 죽는 줄 알았네.
rotto beonho machueo boneun dongan jomajomahaeseojukneun jul aratne.
While checking my lottery numbers, I swear I thought I was going to die of suspense.
💡 Shows how the term applies equally to high-stakes life events and low-brow gambling thrills.
Related words in Sounds & Sensations
몽글몽글 mong-geul-mong-geul오글오글 ogeul-ogeul올망졸망 olmang-jolmang퐁당퐁당 pong-dang-pong-dang새콤달콤 sae-kom-dal-kom