汗流浃背
hàn liú jiā bèi
Profuse sweating · trad. 汗流浹背
People use this idiom to describe someone who is sweating profusely, often to the point where their clothes are soaked. It vividly portrays a state of being drenched in sweat, typically due to intense physical exertion, heat, or even extreme nervousness.
What does 汗流浃背 (hàn liú jiā bèi) mean?
汗流浃背 (hàn liú jiā bèi) means "profuse sweating" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "sweat flows drenching the back."
Character by character
- 汗 hàn sweat
- 流 liú flow
- 浃 jiā soak
- 背 bèi back
When to use it
Commonly used to describe physical states after strenuous activity like sports or hard labor, or in very hot weather. It can also be used figuratively, though less commonly, to describe the mental "sweat" of intense effort or anxiety.
Example
哥哥打完篮球，回家时总是汗流浃背的。
Gēge dǎwán lánqiú, huíjiā shí zǒngshì hàn liú jiā bèi de.
My older brother is always drenched in sweat when he comes home after playing basketball.
Pro tip: The idiom emphasizes the visible effect of sweat soaking the back, highlighting the intensity of the sweating rather than just a general feeling of being hot.
Related idioms
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