Translation guide
Describes a state of crying or being tearful. Japanese uses various expressions depending on the cause, intensity, and context.
Expressing that someone is crying or has tears in their eyes, often due to sadness or emotion.
The most common way to say someone is crying. It's the progressive form of 泣く (to cry).
彼女は泣いている。
She is in tears.
赤ちゃんが泣いている。
The baby is crying.
Describing the appearance of having tears in the eyes, often without active crying.
Literally 'with tears floating in the eyes'. Common for describing a tearful expression.
彼は目に涙を浮かべて別れを告げた。
He said goodbye with tears in his eyes.
Expressing the sudden onset of crying.
Compound verb meaning 'to start crying' or 'burst into tears'.
The English phrase 'in tears' is often used as an adverbial phrase (e.g., 'She left in tears'). In Japanese, it's more natural to use a verb phrase like 泣きながら (while crying) or 泣いて (crying) instead of a direct translation.
彼女は泣きながら部屋を出て行った。
She left the room in tears.
Literally 'shedding tears'. More descriptive and slightly formal. Emphasizes the visible flow of tears.
彼は感動して涙を流していた。
He was in tears from being moved.
Means 'to be on the verge of tears' or 'eyes welling up'. Used when tears are forming but not necessarily falling.
彼女はその話を聞いて涙ぐんでいた。
She was in tears listening to the story.
Describes sobbing or crying uncontrollably. Stronger emotional connotation.
子供は泣きじゃくっていた。
The child was in tears, sobbing.
Means 'eyes full of tears'. More literal and descriptive.
彼女は涙でいっぱいの目で私を見た。
She looked at me with eyes full of tears.
彼女は突然泣き出した。
She suddenly burst into tears.
Literally 'tears overflow'. Describes tears welling up and spilling over, often due to strong emotion.
嬉しさで涙があふれた。
Tears of joy overflowed.