Skip to content
Kotomora

泣

cry, weep, moan

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • キュウ

Kun'yomi

  • な.く

Meaning

泣 centers on shedding tears as an expression of strong emotion: crying, weeping, or moaning in distress.

Most common words using 泣

20 of 106
  • 泣くなく
    N4

    to cry; to shed tears; to weep; to sob

  • 泣きなき

    weeping; lamenting

  • 泣けるなける

    to shed tears; to be moved to tears

  • 号泣ごうきゅう

    crying loudly; bawling; wailing; lamentation

  • 泣かせなかせ

    annoyance (to); bane (of); constant worry (to)

  • 泣き虫なきむし

    crybaby; blubberer

  • 泣かすなかす

    to make someone cry; to move someone to tears

  • 泣く泣くなくなく

    tearfully; in tears; weeping; crying

  • 泣かせるなかせる

    to make someone cry; to move someone to tears

  • 泣き声なきごえ
    N1

    cry (e.g. of a baby); sob; whine

  • 泣き寝入りなきねいり

    crying oneself to sleep

  • 泣き叫ぶなきさけぶ

    to cry and shout; to scream

  • 夜泣きよなき

    crying (of an infant) at night; baby colic

  • 泣き顔なきがお
    N1

    crying face; face of a person who is crying

  • 泣き言なきごと

    complaint

  • 泣き笑いなきわらい

    laughing while crying; smiling through one's tears

  • 泣き付くなきつく

    to cling to ... in tears; to beg ... in tears; to appeal; to throw oneself on someone's mercy

  • 泣き崩れるなきくずれる

    to break down crying

  • もらい泣きもらいなき

    crying in sympathy; infectious crying

  • 嬉し泣きうれしなき

    weeping for joy; crying with happiness

Explore all words using 泣 →

Study

Etymology

泣 combines 氵 (water) with 立 (stand), suggesting tears standing or flowing like water.

Meaning mnemonic

Water 氵 stands 立 as tears: imagine someone standing still while water streams down their face from crying.

Reading mnemonic

For キュウ, picture a crying person making a high-pitched 'kyuu' sound as tears stream down: kyuu -> キュウ.