こぼれる

こぼれる
verb (ichidan)
to spill, to overflow
1. to spill, to overflow
For liquid or objects to fall out of a container.
(みず)がこぼれた。
The water spilled.
(なみだ)がこぼれる。
Tears fall.
コップを(たお)して、テーブルの(うえ)にジュースがこぼれてしまった。
I knocked over the glass and juice spilled all over the table.

こぼれる describes something spilling out or overflowing from a container, often accidentally.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive)
  • Pair: こぼす (transitive, to spill something)

ASPECT (こぼれている):
Indicates the resulting state: (みず)がこぼれている means 'water has spilled' (state).

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • (みず)がこぼれる: water spills
  • (なみだ)がこぼれる: tears fall/overflow
  • ()みがこぼれる: to break into a smile (figurative)
  • (ひかり)がこぼれる: light filters through

KANJI:
Sometimes written as (こぼ)れる, though hiragana is more common.