べそをかく

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

be ready to cry; be on the verge of tears

Describes a child or adult whose face is about to crumple into crying, often with a pouting expression.

叱しかられた子こ供どもはべそをかいている。
The scolded child is on the verge of tears.
彼かれは悔くやしくてべそをかきそうになった。
He was so frustrated he almost started crying.

Similar words

泣なく
泣く means to actually cry, while べそをかく describes the face or state just before crying begins.
涙なみだぐむ
涙ぐむ means eyes welling up with tears, often from emotion; べそをかく emphasizes the facial expression and imminent crying, often in a childish or frustrated context.

Etymology

The word べそ is a child's word for the face or a pouting expression, and かく here means 'to make (a face)'. The phrase literally means 'to make a crying face'.