noun
crocodile tears; fake tears
Refers to insincere or feigned tears, often to manipulate or deceive.
彼女の涙は空涙だった。
Her tears were crocodile tears.
あの政治家の謝罪会見は空涙にしか見えなかった。
That politician's apology press conference looked like nothing but crocodile tears.
嘘泣き is a more casual, everyday term for fake crying, while 空涙 is a slightly more literary or formal expression for insincere tears.
Compound of 空 (そら, 'empty, false') and 涙 (なみだ, 'tears'). The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of using 空 to indicate something feigned or hollow.