‘冒汗’ literally means ‘to emit sweat’ — ‘冒’ (mào) conveys the idea of something emerging or rising up, like steam or bubbles, while ‘汗’ (hàn) means ‘sweat’. Together, they describe the physical act of sweat appearing on the skin surface, often suddenly or noticeably. It emphasizes the visible onset of sweating rather than just perspiring in general.

This verb is commonly used to describe physiological reactions to heat, nervousness, fear, pain, or illness. Unlike the more neutral ‘出汗’ (chū hàn), ‘冒汗’ often carries a slight connotation of intensity, discomfort, or emotional tension — for example, someone might ‘冒汗’ before giving a speech or when facing danger. It’s frequently found in spoken Mandarin and narrative descriptions, especially when highlighting bodily responses in real-time situations.