1.
crocodile tears, fake tears, false tears
Tears that are not genuine but shed for show, to manipulate others or feign emotion. The prefix 空 means "fake" or "pretended."
あれは空涙だよ。
Those are crocodile tears.
彼女は空涙を流して同情を引こうとした。
She shed fake tears trying to get sympathy.
空涙だと分かっていても、泣かれると断れない。
Even knowing they are fake tears, I can't refuse when someone cries.
USAGE:
The 空~ prefix means "fake" or "pretended" and appears in other words like 空返事 (half-hearted reply) and 空惚ける (to play dumb). 空涙 implies deliberate deception.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 空涙を流す (to shed fake tears)
- 空涙を使う (to use fake tears)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 嘘泣き: fake crying — similar meaning, more colloquial
- 空涙: fake tears — slightly more literary