空 涙(そらなみだ)

そらなみだ

noun

crocodile tears, fake tears

See also: 嘘泣(うそな)き (fake crying (colloquial))

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(そら) means "fake" or "pretended."

あれは空涙(そらなみだ)だよ。

Those are crocodile tears.

彼女(かのじょ)は空涙(そらなみだ)を流(なが)して同情(どうじょう)を引(ひ)こうとした。

She shed fake tears trying to get sympathy.

空涙(そらなみだ)だと分(わ)かっていても、泣(な)かれると断(ことわ)れない。

Even knowing they are fake tears, I can't refuse when someone cries.

Usage

The 空(そら)~ prefix means "fake" or "pretended" and appears in other words like 空返事(そらへんじ) (half-hearted reply) and 空惚(そらとぼ)ける (to play dumb). 空涙(そらなみだ) implies deliberate deception.

Common collocations

空涙(そらなみだ)を流(なが)す (to shed fake tears)
空涙(そらなみだ)を使(つか)う (to use fake tears)

Similar words

嘘泣(うそな)き: fake crying — similar meaning, more colloquial
空涙(そらなみだ): fake tears — slightly more literary

general

Added 2026.3.18 8:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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