This is the 12919th most frequent Korean word.
독감처럼
"Like the flu."
Here, '독감처럼' means 'like the flu,' describing a characteristic resemblance to the flu's symptoms (severe cough).
독감처럼 심한 기침이 계속되었어요.
I kept experiencing a severe cough like from the flu.
In this context, '독감처럼' serves as a metaphor describing rapid dissemination akin to how the flu spreads.
그 소설은 독감처럼 사람들 사이에서 빠르게 퍼졌어요.
That novel spread rapidly among people like the flu.
Here, '독감처럼' draws a simile comparing the difficulty experienced during the exam to the distress caused by experiencing the flu.