1.
to spill; to overflow
For liquid or small items to accidentally fall out of a container.
グラスから水が零れた。
Water spilled from the glass.
袋からお米が零れた。
Rice spilled out of the bag.
2.
to slip out; to escape
For something like a smile, tears, or words to emerge unintentionally.
彼女の顔に笑みが零れた。
A smile escaped onto her face.
思わず涙が零れた。
Tears fell before I could stop them.
木の葉の間から光が零れていた。
Light was filtering through the leaves.
嬉しくて笑みが零れた。
I was so happy that a smile slipped out.
零れる is an intransitive verb (自動詞) meaning for something to spill out or escape.
TRANSITIVE PAIR: 零す (to spill something)
- 零れる: Water spills.
- 零す: I spill water.
ASPECT (ている):
零れている indicates something has spilled and remains, or is continuously spilling.
PARTICLE PATTERNS:
- [liquid]が零れる — [liquid] spills
- [container]から零れる — to spill from [container]
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 涙が零れる (tears fall)
- 笑みが零れる (a smile escapes)
- 光が零れる (light spills through)
- 木漏れ日 (sunlight filtering through trees - related compound)
POETIC USE:
零れる is often used poetically for involuntary expressions of emotion (tears, smiles) that "slip out."