Translation guide
Describes the rising or emergence of liquid, emotion, or sound from within. The most common Japanese expressions depend on what is welling up: tears, emotions, water, or sounds.
To describe tears gathering in the eyes, often due to emotion.
The most natural way to say tears well up, emphasizing an involuntary surge of emotion.
感動で涙がこみ上げた。
Tears welled up from being moved.
Tears overflow, often implying they actually spill over.
悲しくて涙があふれた。
I was so sad tears welled up and spilled over.
Onomatopoeic word describing eyes glistening with tears, often used in casual or emotional contexts.
彼女の目がうるうるしていた。
Her eyes were welling up with tears.
Literally 'tears float in the eyes', a slightly more literary or descriptive expression.
目に涙が浮かんで、前が見えなかった。
Tears welled up in my eyes and I couldn't see ahead.
To describe a sudden surge of emotion from within.
General expression for emotions welling up, similar to tears but for feelings like joy, sadness, or nostalgia.
故郷の話を聞いて、懐かしさがこみ上げた。
Hearing about my hometown, nostalgia welled up inside me.
A set phrase meaning 'something wells up inside', often used when the emotion is hard to name.
彼のスピーチには込み上げるものがあった。
His speech made something well up inside me.
Literally 'to gush up', used for strong emotions like anger, courage, or joy that suddenly arise.
To describe water, oil, or other liquids rising from a source.
Used for natural springs, water, or oil welling up from the ground.
温泉が湧き出ている。
Hot spring water is welling up.
Similar to 湧き出る but often used in compound verbs or more general contexts.
水が湧く泉
a spring where water wells up
Implies liquid gushing or spurting out forcefully, like a fountain or burst pipe.
To describe a sound, such as a cheer or murmur, rising from a group.
Used for cheers or applause welling up spontaneously from a crowd.
ゴールの瞬間、大歓声が湧き起こった。
At the moment of the goal, a huge cheer welled up.
For a murmur or buzz welling up, often in a crowd or audience.
会場にざわめきが起こった。
A murmur welled up in the venue.
こみ上げる is used for tears and emotions that rise from deep inside, often involuntarily. 湧き上がる is used for emotions, sounds, or liquids that gush up more forcefully or visibly. For tears, こみ上げる is more common.
Do not translate 'well up' literally as よく上がる. This is meaningless in Japanese. Use the appropriate verb for the context.
勇気が湧き上がってきた。
Courage welled up inside me.
Water welled up and gushed out of the pipe.