Translation guide
The English word 'sweat' can refer to the liquid (noun) or the act of sweating (verb). In Japanese, different words are used for the substance, the action, and related expressions like 'sweat stains' or 'cold sweat'. This guide covers the most common and natural ways to express these concepts.
Referring to the moisture on the skin, especially from heat or exertion.
The most common and general word for sweat. Used in everyday conversation.
I sweated. / I got sweaty.
額に汗がにじんでいる。
Sweat is beading on my forehead.
Emphasizes the wetness of sweat, often used when someone is drenched.
運動して汗みずになった。
I exercised and got all sweaty.
The action of producing sweat.
The standard way to say 'to sweat'. Literally 'to exude sweat'.
暑くて汗をかいた。
It was hot and I sweated.
緊張して手に汗をかいた。
I was nervous and my hands got sweaty.
A formal or medical term for sweating. Used in technical contexts.
運動により発汗する。
Sweating occurs due to exercise.
Describing a person or thing covered in sweat.
Describes being drenched in sweat. Very common.
汗だくで帰ってきた。
He came home dripping with sweat.
Soaked with sweat. Similar to 汗だく but emphasizes wetness.
シャツが汗びっしょりだ。
My shirt is soaked with sweat.
To be slightly sweaty, to glisten with sweat. Often used for a light sweat.
A mark left by sweat on clothing.
A sweat stain. Commonly used for yellowish stains on shirts.
ワイシャツに汗じみができた。
I got sweat stains on my dress shirt.
Sweat caused by fear, anxiety, or illness.
Literally 'cold sweat'. Used for nervous or fearful sweating.
冷や汗が出た。
I broke out in a cold sweat.
危ないところで冷や汗をかいた。
I had a close call and broke into a cold sweat.
Referring to effort or labor, as in 'blood, sweat, and tears'.
The set phrase for 'blood, sweat, and tears'.
成功は血と汗と涙の結晶だ。
Success is the fruit of blood, sweat, and tears.
To work hard, to toil. Literally 'to let sweat flow'.
汗水流して働く。
To work hard, sweating.
The verb 汗する (あせする) exists but is very rare and literary. Stick to 汗をかく for natural speech.
少し汗ばむ陽気だ。
It's warm enough to break a light sweat.