1. What does it mean?

지름신 jokingly personifies the urge to buy something. Saying 지름신이 왔다 or 지름신이 강림했다 frames a shopping temptation as if a spirit had suddenly appeared.

Also written or said as 지름신 강림

2. The nuance

This is playful self-description, not a literal religious claim or a diagnosis of shopping behavior. It can describe nearly making a purchase as well as actually making one. The joke does not change whether a purchase is affordable.

3. Examples

“새 가방을 보고 지름신이 왔지만 일단 장바구니에만 넣었어.”

The new bag tempted me, but I only put it in my cart for now.

“할인 알림만 보면 지름신이 찾아오는 것 같아.”

Every sale notification seems to summon my impulse-buying spirit.

Related words

Sources

KoreanClass101: Korean language lessons

References support the meaning and usage. Example sentences are written for NoCapWiki.