Translation guide
The English phrase 'tears of blood' is used literally for crying blood, and figuratively for extreme suffering, anguish, or a painful effort. In Japanese, the literal expression exists but is less common; figurative uses are more often expressed through idioms about hardship, bitter tears, or blood, sweat, and tears.
Describing the physical act of shedding tears of blood, often in a dramatic, literary, or medical context.
The direct Japanese equivalent, used in literary or dramatic contexts. It can be literal or metaphorical.
彼は血の涙を流した。
He shed tears of blood.
Verb phrase meaning 'to shed tears of blood'. More common as a set phrase.
その光景に、彼女は血の涙を流した。
At that sight, she shed tears of blood.
Expressing deep emotional pain, grief, or torment, often metaphorically.
Used metaphorically for intense sorrow or anguish, similar to English.
その知らせを聞いて、心の中で血の涙を流した。
Hearing the news, I shed tears of blood in my heart.
Literally 'a feeling as if blood is coming out', meaning excruciating emotional pain or a heart-wrenching experience.
彼を失った時は、血の出るような思いだった。
When I lost him, it felt like my heart was bleeding.
Literally 'gut-wrenching feeling', a classical idiom for heart-rending grief. Often used in formal or written contexts.
断腸の思いで、その決断を下した。
With a heavy heart, I made that decision.
Literally 'blood-soaked effort', used for a desperate, painful struggle. More about effort than tears, but conveys similar intensity.
血みどろの努力の末、彼は成功した。
After a blood-soaked effort, he succeeded.
Describing a situation where someone works extremely hard, often suffering, to achieve something. Similar to 'blood, sweat, and tears'.
Direct equivalent of 'blood, sweat, and tears'. Commonly used for great effort and sacrifice.
成功は血と汗と涙の結晶だ。
Success is the fruit of blood, sweat, and tears.
Literally 'effort that oozes blood', meaning painstaking, backbreaking effort.
血のにじむような努力の末、彼は医者になった。
After painstaking effort, he became a doctor.
Similar to above, emphasizing the painful nature of the effort.
血の出るような努力を重ねて、彼は目標を達成した。
Through blood-like effort, he achieved his goal.
While '血の涙' is understood, using it in everyday conversation may sound overly dramatic or literary. For expressing sadness or hardship, simpler phrases like 'とても悲しい' (very sad) or '大変な努力' (great effort) are more natural.
'血の涙' focuses on emotional pain or literal tears of blood, while '血と汗と涙' is specifically about hard work and sacrifice, similar to the English 'blood, sweat, and tears'. Do not confuse the two.