# 汗流浃背

hàn liú jiā bèi

Be drenched in sweat

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Sweat soaks the back

**Traditional Chinese:** 汗流浹背

**Register:** Descriptive · general

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe heavy sweating from exertion, heat, or nervousness.

The cause is contextual; it need not indicate physical work.

## Understanding the expression

Sweat spreading across the back makes bodily effort or heat visible. The expression commonly describes carrying heavy loads, exercising, or working in hot conditions. It can also convey nervous sweating during an examination or difficult conversation. The phrase reports the physical state rather than praising it automatically. In a sentence about work, the reader may infer diligence; in a sentence about anxiety, the same sweat signals emotional pressure.

## Examples

搬完家具，他汗流浃背。

### Traditional Chinese

搬完傢俱，他汗流浹背。

bān wán jiā jù ， tā hàn liú jiā bèi 。

He was drenched in sweat after moving furniture.

厨房太热，厨师汗流浃背。

### Traditional Chinese

廚房太熱，廚師汗流浹背。

chú fáng tài rè ， chú shī hàn liú jiā bèi 。

The hot kitchen left the chef drenched in sweat.

她跑上山顶，已经汗流浃背。

### Traditional Chinese

她跑上山頂，已經汗流浹背。

tā pǎo shàng shān dǐng ， yǐ jīng hàn liú jiā bèi 。

She was soaked in sweat after running uphill.

面对追问，他紧张得汗流浃背。

### Traditional Chinese

面對追問，他緊張得汗流浹背。

miàn duì zhuī wèn ， tā jǐn zhāng dé hàn liú jiā bèi 。

The persistent questioning made him sweat with nerves.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%B1%97%E6%B5%81%E6%B5%B9%E8%83%8C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=449&webMd=1&la=0)

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