tears

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 涙 has 10 strokes and denotes tears or qualities such as a tearful voice.
• Basic usage: 涙 is read なみだ, and 涙声 is read なみだごえ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The emotion behind tears
  • 悲しい映画を見て涙がこぼれた describes tears arising while watching a sad film.
  • 喜びの涙を流した means shedding tears of joy, so tears do not always express sadness.
• The quality of a voice
  • 涙声で別れの言葉を伝えた means saying goodbye in a tearful voice.
  • 涙声 ends in ごえ and focuses on the quality of the voice rather than the tears themselves.