Translation guide
The English word 'tear' has two main meanings: the noun meaning a drop of liquid from the eye, and the verb meaning to rip or pull apart. These are completely different words in Japanese, so it's important to distinguish them by context.
Expressing the liquid that comes from the eyes when crying or due to irritation.
The standard word for 'tear' or 'tears'. Can be used in most contexts.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Please wipe your tears.
Used in compound words and set phrases.
He is easily moved to tears.
Literally 'tears come out', a common way to say 'to cry' or 'tears flow'.
I was so moved that tears came to my eyes.
Literally 'to shed tears', a slightly more formal or literary expression.
He shed tears of sadness.
Expressing the action of pulling something apart or damaging it by pulling, or becoming damaged in this way.
Transitive verb meaning to tear, rip, or break something like paper, cloth, or a promise. Focuses on the result of damaging the object.
He tore up the letter.
Intransitive verb meaning to be torn, ripped, or broken. Describes the state of something becoming torn.
Transitive verb meaning to tear, rip, or split something, often along a seam or grain. Implies a clean or forceful tear.
Intransitive verb meaning to be torn, split, or rent. Often used for fabric or skin.
Transitive verb meaning to tear apart, rip up, or rend. Emphasizes pulling forcefully in different directions.
Transitive verb meaning to tear off, shred, or break into small pieces, often by hand. Common for paper or bread.
Expressing rapid movement, often in the phrase 'tear along' or 'tear off'.
破る (yaburu) is transitive (you tear something), while 破れる (yabureru) is intransitive (something tears). Using the wrong one can change the meaning or sound unnatural.
I tear the paper vs. The paper tears (should be 紙が破れる)
破る (yaburu) is general tearing/ripping, often for paper or flat objects. 裂く (saku) implies tearing along a line or seam, often for cloth. ちぎる (chigiru) means tearing into small pieces by hand, like bread or lettuce.
I accidentally tore a page.
この紙はすぐに破れる。
This paper tears easily.
My pocket is torn.
He tore the cloth.
My shirt got torn.
彼は怒って手紙を引き裂いた。
He angrily tore the letter to pieces.
I tore off a piece of bread and ate it.