Translation guide
The English word 'weeping' refers to crying, often with tears, and can range from quiet sobbing to loud wailing. In Japanese, the most common and neutral way to express this is 泣く (naku), but there are many nuanced words depending on the manner, intensity, and context of the crying.
To express the act of shedding tears, whether from sadness, pain, or emotion. This is the most common meaning.
The most general and neutral verb for 'to cry' or 'to weep'. It covers everything from silent tears to loud crying. Can be used for humans and sometimes animals.
She wept because she was sad.
The baby is crying.
Literally 'to shed tears'. A slightly more literary or descriptive way to say 'weep'. It emphasizes the flowing of tears.
I was moved to tears.
To sob or weep convulsively, often with hiccuping breaths. Used for intense, uncontrollable crying, especially by children.
The child spoke while sobbing.
To express crying in a subdued, muffled, or restrained manner, often with soft sounds.
To sob or weep quietly, often with sniffles. It conveys a sense of restrained grief or sadness.
He wept quietly while watching the movie.
To weep while choking up or being overcome with emotion. It implies a struggle to breathe while crying.
To weep secretly or stealthily, trying not to be heard. Often used in literary contexts.
To express crying with loud, unrestrained sounds, often associated with grief or intense emotion.
To cry and shout at the same time; to wail. Used for loud, desperate crying, often by children or in extreme distress.
The child wailed for his mother.
To wail or cry loudly; to weep bitterly. Often used in news or formal descriptions of public grief.
He wailed at the funeral.
To lament or wail with deep grief. A very strong, literary word for intense, heart-rending weeping.
She wailed in anguish over the death of her loved one.
To express crying that is not from sadness but from happiness, relief, or being deeply touched.
To express that tears are flowing not from emotion but from physical causes like wind, cold, or irritation.
泣く is the default 'to cry' and can be used in almost any situation. 涙を流す is more descriptive and often used in writing or when emphasizing the tears themselves. 号泣する is specifically for loud, intense wailing and is common in news reports.
He cried quietly.
She shed tears of gratitude.
The victims were shown wailing.
English 'weeping' can sound literary or dramatic. In Japanese, 泣く is the everyday word. Reserve words like むせび泣く or 慟哭する for contexts where the intensity or style of crying is specifically highlighted.
She wept, choked with sorrow.
彼女は夜中に忍び泣いた。
She wept secretly in the middle of the night.