tears on the sleeves of one's kimono; weeping copiously
Literary expression evoking the image of tears falling onto the sleeves of a kimono, suggesting deep sorrow or abundant weeping. Often used in classical or poetic contexts.
At the parting scene, the tears on her sleeves would not stop.
Reading that sad tale, I was lost in a flood of tears.
Standard kanji spelling for this literary expression.
Kana spelling; may be used for clarity or in contexts where kanji are avoided.
袂 (たもと) refers to the sleeve of a kimono, and 露 (つゆ) means 'dew', metaphorically likening tears to dewdrops. The phrase is a classical poetic image for weeping.