涙
tears · sympathy
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'water' (氵) with 'return' (戻), representing water returning from the eyes—tears.
Symbolism
Symbolizes tears, emotion, and both sorrow and joy. Represents the purest form of deep human emotions manifesting outward.
Component Breakdown
water + 戻
Words & Expressions
Words written with 涙
Four-Character Compounds
涙を呑む
なみだをのむ
Swallowing tears; Suppressing disappointment
Poetry
思ひわび さてもいのちは あるものを 憂きにたへぬは 涙なりけり
Worn down by longing, I find I am still alive after all. It is my tears that cannot bear the grief.
嘆けとて 月やは物を 思はする かこち顔なる わが涙かな
Is it the moon that tells me to grieve? No. And yet my tears run as though I could blame it.
Anime & Manga
劇場版 転生したらスライムだった件 蒼海の涙編
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea
A well-known work with 涙 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“tears”
“sympathy”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 涙 mean in Japanese?
涙 means tears, sympathy.
How do you read 涙?
On'yomi: ルイ、レイ (RUI, REI). Kun'yomi: なみだ (namida).
How many strokes does 涙 have?
涙 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 水 (water).
Is 涙 a good kanji for a tattoo?
涙 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means tears, sympathy. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.