Translation guide
The English verb 'weep' means to cry, usually with tears, often implying a quieter or more prolonged sadness than 'cry'. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 泣く (naku), which covers both 'cry' and 'weep'. There are also more specific or literary terms.
The most common way to express 'weep' in the sense of crying, shedding tears, often from sadness.
The standard verb for 'cry' or 'weep'. Covers everything from sobbing to silent tears. Can be used for sadness, joy, or other emotions.
彼女は悲しくて泣いた。
She wept from sadness.
赤ちゃんが泣いている。
The baby is crying.
Literally 'to shed tears'. A slightly more formal or descriptive way to say 'weep'. Emphasizes the tears themselves.
彼は感動して涙を流した。
He wept with emotion.
To sob or weep quietly, with sniffles. More specific than 泣く, implying a subdued, sniffling cry.
彼女は部屋の隅ですすり泣いていた。
She was weeping quietly in the corner of the room.
Expressing prolonged weeping, often associated with grief or lamentation.
To spend one's days weeping; to weep continually. Implies a period of grief.
彼は妻を亡くして泣き暮らした。
He wept for days after losing his wife.
To wail or lament loudly; a strong, literary term for weeping in deep grief.
人々は悲しみに慟哭した。
The people wept and wailed in sorrow.
Describing silent weeping or tears forming without sobbing.
Tears spill over. Describes the moment tears fall, often silently.
彼の言葉に涙がこぼれた。
Tears spilled over at his words.
To be moved to tears; eyes welling up. Often used for being touched emotionally.
彼女は感謝の言葉に涙ぐんだ。
She wept a little at the words of gratitude.
The metaphorical use of 'weep' for oozing liquid, like sap or pus.
To drip, trickle, or ooze. Used for liquids like sap, blood, or water.
傷口から血がしたたっていた。
Blood was weeping from the wound.
To ooze, exude, or blur. Can describe liquid seeping out slowly.
泣く is the general verb for crying/weeping and is used in everyday speech. 涙を流す is more descriptive and slightly formal, focusing on the act of shedding tears. It is often used in writing or emotional narratives.
彼は声を出さずに泣いた。
He wept without making a sound.
彼女は静かに涙を流した。
She quietly shed tears.
There is no single Japanese verb that exactly matches the nuance of 'weep' as distinct from 'cry'. Using 泣く is almost always correct. Overusing literary terms like 慟哭する or すすり泣く can sound unnatural or overly dramatic in casual contexts.
Sap was weeping from the cut in the tree.