涙(なみだ)

なみだ

noun

tear, tears

1. tear, tears

Drops of liquid from the eyes when crying.

涙(なみだ)が出(で)た。

Tears came out.

嬉(うれ)しくて涙(なみだ)が止(と)まらなかった。

I was so happy that I couldn't stop crying.

映画(えいが)を見(み)ていたら、涙(なみだ)が出(で)てしまった。

I ended up crying while watching the movie.

悲(かな)しいニュースを聞(き)いて涙(なみだ)を流(なが)している人(ひと)が大勢(おおぜい)いた。

Many people were in tears after hearing the sad news.

卒業式(そつぎょうしき)で先生(せんせい)や友達(ともだち)との別(わか)れが辛(つら)くて、泣(な)くまいと思(おも)っていたのに涙(なみだ)が止(と)まらなかった。

At the graduation ceremony, saying goodbye to teachers and friends was so hard that I couldn't hold back my tears even though I tried not to cry.

Common expressions

涙(なみだ)を流(なが)す: to shed tears
涙(なみだ)が出(で)る: tears come out
涙(なみだ)が止(と)まらない: can't stop crying
涙(なみだ)もろい: easily moved to tears
涙(なみだ)を拭(ふ)く: to wipe away tears

Types

嬉(うれ)し涙(なみだ): tears of joy
悔(くや)し涙(なみだ): tears of frustration

Compounds

涙声(なみだごえ): tearful voice
涙目(なみだめ): teary eyes
涙腺(るいせん): tear glands (lacrimal glands)

Watch out

涙(なみだ) is the tears themselves; the act of crying is the verb 泣(な)く. 'She cried' is 泣(な)いた, not 涙(なみだ)した.

Related Words

Related: 泣(な)く (to cry)

core

Added 2026.1.9 21:07 · Revised 2026.9.23 21:23

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