Translation guide
Describes the physical sensation or emotional experience of liquid (often tears) rising or gathering, or a feeling intensifying inside.
To describe tears gathering in the eyes, often from emotion.
The most common and natural way to say tears are welling up, emphasizing the involuntary rising of emotion.
感動して涙がこみ上げてきた。
I was so moved that tears welled up.
To express an emotion or sensation rising strongly from within.
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.
Literally 'tears overflow', used when tears actually spill over. Slightly more advanced stage than just welling up.
うれしくて涙があふれた。
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.
その話を聞いて目頭が熱くなった。
Hearing that story, I felt tears welling up.
Tears blurring the vision, often used in literary or emotional contexts.
別れの場面で涙がにじんだ。
Tears welled up at the parting scene.
Used for emotions suddenly rising up. Often paired with feelings like sadness, joy, or anger.
悲しみがこみ上げてきた。
A feeling of sadness welled up inside me.
Kanji variant of こみ上げる, same meaning and usage.
怒りが込み上げるのを抑えた。
I suppressed the anger welling up inside me.
Literally 'to well up' or 'gush forth', used for emotions or energy rising spontaneously.
喜びが湧き上がってきた。
Joy welled up inside me.
Used for emotions pushing up, often with a nuance of being unstoppable. Less common than こみ上げる.
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.
The standard verb for water springing forth.
岩の間から清水が湧き出ている。
Clear water is welling up from between the rocks.