땀
ttam[t͈a̠m]
The English word 'sweat' is 땀 (ttam) in Korean.
The standard way to refer to the fluid that exits the body through pores is 땀. You can use more specific terms such as 땀방울 for a 'sweat droplet' or the more formal term 발한 for 'perspiration'. To describe the action of sweating, you can use the phrases 땀을 흘리다 or 땀이 나다.
Meaning: fluid that exits the body through pores (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb form 땀을 흘리다 is constructed by combining the noun 땀 (sweat) with the verb 흘리다 (to flow or to shed).
Which one should you use?
While both describe sweating, 땀을 흘리다 is typically used to describe an active process, such as sweating during heavy labor or intense exercise. In contrast, 땀이 나다 (literally 'sweat comes out') is often used to describe a natural state or the occurrence of sweat, such as when one feels hot or has a fever. Additionally, 땀을 억제하다 means 'to suppress sweat' and 땀 좀 닦아 means 'wipe away the sweat'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ttam
Did you know?
- In Korean, the word 땀 is used in the idiom 땀이 나다 to describe a situation that is nerve-wracking or makes someone feel anxious, even if they are not physically hot.
- In Korean, the verb used for 'to shed' in the phrase 땀을 흘리다 is the same verb used for 'to cry' or 'to shed tears' (눈물을 흘리다).
- The Middle Korean ancestor of 땀 was written as ᄯᆞᆷ, a form that disappeared as the language evolved into its modern phonetic structure.
Examples in context
- 오늘 운동해서 땀이 많이 나왔어요.I sweated a lot during today's workout.
- 햇빛 아래에서 서서 땀을 흘렸다.I sweated while standing under the sun.
- 더운 여름에는 땀이 많이 나요.A lot of sweat comes out in hot summers.
- 운동을 하니까 땀이 많이 나요.undong-eul hanikka ttami mani nayo.I am sweating a lot because I exercised.
- 이마에 땀이 맺혔어요.imae ttami maet-hyeosseoyo.Sweat formed on my forehead.
- 땀을 너무 많이 흘렸어요.ttameul neomu mani heullyeosseoyo.I sweated too much.
Example conversation
Ji-hun and Su-bin are walking home on a hot summer day.
- 지훈 Ji-hun오늘 날씨가 정말 덥네요.oneul nalssiga jeongmal deopneyo.The weather is really hot today.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아요. 저도 땀이 많이 나요.majayo. jeodo ttami mani nayo.You're right. I'm sweating a lot too.
- 지훈 Ji-hun여기 손수건 있으니까 쓰세요.yeogi sonsugeon isseunikka sseuseyo.I have a handkerchief here, so please use it.
- 수빈 Su-bin고마워요, 지훈 씨.gomawoyo, Jihun ssi.Thank you, Ji-hun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweat” translations and entries 땀, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 땀, CC BY-SA 4.0.
