こぼす

こ

ぼ

す

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

こぼす · godan verb (-su)

Meanings

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Physical spilling of liquids, dropping small items, or shedding tears. Often used with 涙 (tears).

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Used for voicing dissatisfaction or complaints, often in a muttering or grumbling manner. Common in phrases like 愚痴をこぼす.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

show one's feelings; let feelings show

usually written using kana alone

Refers to unintentionally revealing emotions, often through facial expression or tone. Commonly used with 笑み (smile) or 不満 (discontent).

涙なみだを零こぼすto shed tears
彼かの女じょは映えい画がを見みて涙なみだを零こぼした。
She shed tears while watching the movie.
愚ぐ痴ちを零こぼすto grumble; to voice complaints
仕し事ごとの疲つかれで愚ぐ痴ちを零こぼしてしまった。
Exhausted from work, I ended up grumbling about it.
笑えみを零こぼすto let a smile show
彼かれはその話はなしを聞きいて笑えみを零こぼした。
He let a smile show when he heard the story.

こぼれるN3sense 1
零す is the transitive act of spilling something, while 零れる is the intransitive result of something spilling on its own.

愚ぐ痴ちる sense 2
愚痴る is a casual, colloquial verb meaning to grumble, while 零す is more neutral and often paired with 愚痴を to mean the same thing.
漏もらすN1sense 3
漏らす emphasizes letting something slip out unintentionally (words, sounds, feelings), whereas 零す focuses on feelings or expressions spilling over visibly, as in a smile or frown.
垂たらすN1
こぼす means to spill a larger amount of liquid or solid, often accidentally, while 垂らす focuses on a thin stream or drops let fall deliberately or carelessly.

漏もらすN1
漏らす describes a gradual or hidden escape of a substance (through a gap, or a secret slipping out), while 溢す describes visibly spilling a liquid or contents, often by accident.

The origin is uncertain; it may be related to the mimetic word こぼこぼ (bubbling or overflowing sound), but the exact derivation is unclear.