Translation guide
Describes the physical sensation or emotional experience of liquid (often tears) rising or gathering, or a feeling intensifying inside.
I was so moved that tears welled up.
Literally 'tears overflow', used when tears actually spill over. Slightly more advanced stage than just welling up.
I was so happy that tears overflowed.
Describes the sensation of tears about to come, literally 'the inner corners of the eyes become hot'. Very natural for describing being on the verge of tears.
Hearing that story, I felt tears welling up.
Tears blurring the vision, often used in literary or emotional contexts.
Tears welled up at the parting scene.
To express an emotion or sensation rising strongly from within.
Used for emotions suddenly rising up. Often paired with feelings like sadness, joy, or anger.
A feeling of sadness welled up inside me.
Kanji variant of こみ上げる, same meaning and usage.
Literally 'to well up' or 'gush forth', used for emotions or energy rising spontaneously.
Used for emotions pushing up, often with a nuance of being unstoppable. Less common than こみ上げる.
To describe a spring or water rising naturally from the earth.
こみ上げる emphasizes an involuntary, sudden surge of emotion, often with a nuance of choking up. 湧き上がる suggests a more gradual, natural rising of feeling, like a spring. Both can be used for tears and emotions, but こみ上げる is more common for tears.
tears well up (suddenly, uncontrollably)
joy wells up (naturally, from within)
I suppressed the anger welling up inside me.
Joy welled up inside me.
感情がせり上がってきて、言葉が出なかった。
Emotions welled up and I couldn't speak.
a place where hot springs well up