汗出沾背 — “To be drenched in sweat”
汗出沾背 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be drenched in sweat”. To sweat profusely (due to extreme heat, intense fear, deep shame, or embarrassment). Literally, “Sweat comes out soaking the back”.
汗出沾背 Pronunciation and Pinyin
汗出沾背 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 汗出沾背
Origin and Story of 汗出沾背
During the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wen was deeply concerned with state affairs and the well-being of his people.
One day in court, he asked Zhou Bo, the Right Chancellor, 'How many criminal cases were judged throughout the country in a year?'
Zhou Bo honestly admitted he didn't know.
The emperor then asked him, 'What were the annual expenditures for national funds and grain?'
Zhou Bo again confessed his ignorance, becoming so frightened that sweat drenched his back, and he was too ashamed to respond.
Idioms Related to 汗出沾背
Synonyms of 汗出沾背
More idioms starting with 汗
- hàn汗bù不gǎn敢chū出too scared to sweat
- hàn汗rú如yǔ雨xià下sweat profusely
- hàn汗qià洽gǔ股lì栗sweating and trembling with fear
- hàn汗liú流jiā夹bèi背drenched in sweat from extreme fear
- hàn汗liú流jiē接zhǒng踵sweat flowing to one's heels
- hàn汗liú流qià洽bèi背drenched in sweat from fear or exertion
- hàn汗liú流qià洽yī衣sweat profusely, soaking clothes
- hàn汗liú流jiā浃tǐ体drenched in sweat from extreme fear
- hàn汗liú流jiā浃fū肤drenched in a cold sweat from extreme fear
- hàn汗liú流jiā浃bèi背drenched in sweat
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Open the tool →Questions about 汗出沾背
What does 汗出沾背 mean?
汗出沾背 (hàn chū zhān bèi) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be drenched in sweat”.
How do you pronounce 汗出沾背?
汗出沾背 is pronounced hàn chū zhān bèi in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 汗出沾背 literally mean?
Literally, 汗出沾背 means “Sweat comes out soaking the back”. It is used to mean “to be drenched in sweat”.
Where does 汗出沾背 come from?
汗出沾背 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 汗出沾背?
沾：浸湿。汗水沾湿了脊背。形容天气炎热或人极度惊慌或惭愧