Translation guide
Expresses the experience of being so emotionally affected that one cries. Japanese has several common expressions ranging from straightforward to poetic.
The general experience of being emotionally overwhelmed to the point of crying, often from joy, gratitude, or touching moments.
A natural, common way to say you were moved to tears. Literally 'tears come out from being moved'.
その映画に感動して涙が出た。
I was so moved by that movie that I cried.
Means tears spill over, often implying being moved. Can be used with 感動して or on its own.
あまりの嬉しさに涙がこぼれた。
I was so happy that tears spilled over.
A somewhat literary or formal noun meaning 'tears of emotion'. Often used in writing or speeches.
彼のスピーチに感涙を禁じ得なかった。
I couldn't hold back tears of emotion at his speech.
Emphasizes the intensity of emotion, often with a sense of being overwhelmed and unable to control tears.
Literally 'tears won't stop'. Very common for being so moved that you keep crying.
感動で涙が止まらなかった。
I was so moved I couldn't stop crying.
Tears overflow, suggesting a strong surge of emotion. Slightly more poetic than 涙が出る.
その手紙を読んで涙が溢れた。
Reading that letter, tears overflowed.
Specifically for tears caused by touching, heartwarming situations, often with a nuance of being deeply touched by kindness or beauty.
Literally 'chest becomes warm', a common expression for being deeply moved, often to the point of tears.
彼の優しさに胸が熱くなった。
His kindness moved me to tears.
Means 'to be struck in the heart and cry'. Emphasizes the emotional impact.
その話に心を打たれて涙が出た。
I was so touched by that story that I cried.
Specifically for happy tears, often from relief, achievement, or overwhelming happiness.
Literally 'happy tears come out'. A straightforward way to say tears of joy.
合格発表を見て嬉し涙が出た。
I cried tears of joy when I saw the exam results.
Tears spill over from happiness. A slightly more emotional phrasing.
サプライズに嬉しくて涙がこぼれた。
I was so happy about the surprise that tears spilled over.
For tears that come from sadness, grief, or a bittersweet feeling, often in response to tragic stories or farewells.
Simple and direct: 'I'm so sad that tears come out'.
その映画のラストシーンで悲しくて涙が出た。
I was moved to tears by the sad final scene of that movie.
For a poignant, heart-wrenching sadness that makes tears unstoppable.
別れのシーンが切なくて涙が止まらなかった。
The farewell scene was so poignant I couldn't stop crying.
感動する means 'to be moved' emotionally, but does not necessarily imply tears. To explicitly say you cried, combine it with 涙が出る or use other tear-specific phrases.
感動したけど、涙は出なかった。
I was moved, but I didn't cry.
Adding 〜てしまう to the verb can emphasize that the tears came out unintentionally or despite trying to hold them back.
感動して涙が出てしまった。
I was so moved I ended up crying (in spite of myself).