흠칫 (heumchit)

*startled pause*

What it means

A brief startled freeze — noticing something unexpected or being caught off guard.

Where you'll see it in manhwa

• Noticing someone watching
• A question hits too close
• Seeing something suspicious

How to say it

Romanized as heumchit. It's a emotion effect (feelings drawn as sound: heartbeats, flinches, blushes) and its rarity is uncommon.

Similar sound effects

• 움찔 umjjil — *flinch*
• 빤히 ppanhi — *stare*

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