涙 腺(るいせん)

るいせん

noun

tear gland; lacrimal gland

1. tear gland; lacrimal gland

The gland that produces tears. In everyday Japanese, most often encountered in the figurative expression 涙腺(るいせん)が緩(ゆる)む (one's tear glands loosen, i.e., to get teary-eyed easily).

涙腺(るいせん)が緩(ゆる)んだ。

I got teary-eyed.

年(とし)を取(と)ると涙腺(るいせん)が弱(よわ)くなる。

As you get older, you get teary more easily.

あの映画(えいが)は涙腺(るいせん)崩壊(ほうかい)だった。

That movie had me completely in tears.

While technically an anatomical term, 涙腺(るいせん) is most commonly used in figurative expressions about crying or becoming emotional. The phrase 涙腺(るいせん)が緩(ゆる)む is extremely common in everyday speech.

Common collocations

涙腺(るいせん)が緩(ゆる)む: to get teary-eyed; to well up
涙腺(るいせん)が弱(よわ)い: to cry easily
涙腺(るいせん)崩壊(ほうかい): total tearful collapse (slang for crying hard)
涙腺(るいせん)を刺激(しげき)する: to stimulate the tear glands; to be a tearjerker

Usage

涙腺(るいせん)崩壊(ほうかい) is internet slang meaning "I cried so hard" — literally "tear-gland collapse." Used in reviews, social media, and casual conversation to describe extremely moving experiences.

Similar words

涙(なみだ): tears — the tears themselves
泣(な)く: to cry — the basic verb for crying
涙(なみだ)もろい: easily moved to tears — an adjective describing the personality trait

Related Words

Compare: 泣(な)く (to cry)

general

Added 2026.4.29 1:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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