Translation guide
The English word "tears" refers to the liquid that comes from your eyes when you cry or when your eyes are irritated. In Japanese, the most common word is 涙 (なみだ). This guide covers how to talk about tears naturally in Japanese, including common phrases and expressions.
Referring to the physical tears themselves, whether from emotion or irritation.
The standard word for 'tears'. Used in all contexts.
Describes tears spilling or overflowing, often used in emotional contexts.
感動で涙がこぼれた。
Tears spilled over from emotion.
Literally 'to shed tears'. A common way to say someone cried.
彼女は悲しくて涙を流した。
She shed tears because she was sad.
Tear glands. Often used in the phrase 涙腺が緩む (tear glands loosen) meaning to get teary-eyed.
涙腺が緩んで泣いてしまった。
My tear glands loosened and I ended up crying.
Expressing the act of crying or being emotionally overwhelmed to the point of tears.
The general verb for 'to cry'. Often used instead of explicitly mentioning tears.
映画を見て泣いた。
I cried watching the movie.
Literally 'tears come out'. A natural way to say you get teary-eyed.
この話を聞くと涙が出る。
Hearing this story makes tears come out.
Means 'tears won't stop', used when crying uncontrollably.
悲しすぎて涙が止まらなかった。
I was so sad that tears wouldn't stop.
To be on the verge of tears, eyes welling up.
Specifically referring to tears caused by happiness, relief, or deep emotion.
Tears of joy. A common compound.
合格の知らせに嬉し涙を流した。
I shed tears of joy at the news of passing.
Tears of emotion/moved to tears.
感動の涙が溢れた。
Tears of emotion overflowed.
So happy that tears come out.
涙が出るほど嬉しかった。
I was so happy I could cry.
Tears that are not genuine, often used to manipulate.
Fake crying. Commonly used for children or insincere displays.
子供が嘘泣きをした。
The child fake cried.
False tears, more literary or dramatic.
彼女の涙は偽りの涙だった。
Her tears were false tears.
To cry in a coaxing voice, implying insincerity. Not a direct translation of 'crocodile tears' but conveys a similar idea.
彼は猫なで声で泣いて許しを請うた。
He cried in a coaxing voice to beg forgiveness.
In English, we often say 'tears fell' or 'tears streamed down'. In Japanese, it's more natural to use 涙 as the subject with verbs like 出る, こぼれる, 流れる, but avoid overly poetic translations unless the context is literary. Simple phrases like 泣いた (I cried) are often better.
Tears are counted with 粒 (つぶ) for individual drops, or 滴 (しずく) for droplets. Example: 一筋の涙 (ひとすじのなみだ) means a single tear stream.
彼女は涙を拭った。
She wiped away her tears.
彼の目に涙が浮かんだ。
Tears welled up in his eyes.
感動して涙が出た。
I was moved to tears.
彼の言葉に涙ぐんだ。
I welled up at his words.