What does 汗 mean besides "sweat?"

[Hofmann]

Does 汗 mean anything other than "sweat?"

[gougou]

On the internet, it is often used to convey surprise or bewilderment (sometimes also shame). For the former usage, compare to 雷 and 囧。

[Scoobyqueen]

It reminded me of this poem, second line, which is also a figurative use of 汗. The poem gave rise to the chengy in the final line.

锄禾日当午

汗滴禾下土

谁念盘中飧

粒粒皆辛苦

[leeyah]

Nice poem, 李绅 《悯农》 conveying a message of compassion for the hard-working peasants:

古代农人们每天扛着锄头，在大太阳底下辛苦流汗，种出了我们每天三餐的粒粒米饭。这首诗的意义在警示世人，一粥一饭得来不易，千万不要浪费粮食。

On the internet,it is often used to convey surprise or bewilderment (sometimes also shame)

Thanks for the slang, Gougou! Just found these examples: ... 汗阿！ & ... 汗死！+ 百度百科： 汗颜 hànyán = blush with shame

Also found this one: 一个好汗三个帮, don't know if it's accurate, though, could be just a pun on 好汉

[skylee]

It also means "khan", as in "大汗" "可汗" and "天可汗".

[gato]

http://wenda.tianya.cn/wenda/thread?tid=046a580a858e4bbe

qq表情里流汗什么意思

[rob07]

As Skylee says, 汗 means khan, but in Sydney "汗" means "This is a Mongolian barbecue restaurant" (there is a chain). For example, 成吉思汗 is the Chinese name for Genghis Khan.

[Hofmann]

Thanks. gougou got the definition I was looking for.

[gougou]

Must...spend...less...time...on...the...internet......

[waterluo]

a new cyber-slang,it does mean surprise ,which you can use singly

[Gharial]

Can I ask what the tones are for 可汗? I know I shouldn't have my nose stuck in apparently only the Oxford dictionary so much, but I noticed that it gives ke4han2 (which is the only entry/compound listed under ke4) even though ke is usually 3rd tone and han 4th (and there is no listing of khans under han4 in the Oxford, nor any separate entry for han2). Thanks.

[skylee]

What is wrong with ke4han2? It is an old word (and I think an imported word too).

PS - In Cantonese it is also pronounced differently from the usual pronunciation (hak7 hon4 vs ho2 hon6).

[Gharial]

Thanks Skylee! I wasn't saying it was so much wrong, but rather, simply checking.

[Gharial]

Actually I just found it in MBDG...somehow missed it the first time around. Sorry 'bout that!

[Kenny同志]

Also found this one: 一个好汗三个帮, don't know if it's accurate, though, could be just a pun on 好汉

It should have been 一个好汉三个帮. 好汗, wrong phrase, a typo I think.

[creamyhorror]

When I saw 汗 being used as slang I thought it was taken from the anime "sweatdrop" trope (expressing bemusement or embarrassment at some awkward, silly situation or action). It's pretty much the same as the ^_^; emoticon used in some circles.

[chrix]

汗 is definitely used in Japan online communication that way, I suppose it indeed comes from manga...

Other expressions similarly standing in for emoticons include 涙 and 笑...