눈물 흘리다 en 30 segundos
- 눈물 흘리다 means 'to shed tears' and focuses on the physical sight of tears falling.
- It is used for various emotions like sadness, joy, and even physical pain like cutting onions.
- Grammatically, it uses '눈물' as the object and '흘리다' (to shed/spill) as the verb.
- It differs from '울다' (to cry) which implies the sound and overall state of weeping.
The Korean expression 눈물 흘리다 is a foundational verb phrase that literally translates to "to shed tears." While the English word "cry" often encompasses the vocalization and the physical act of weeping, 눈물 흘리다 specifically emphasizes the physical manifestation of tears escaping the eyes. It is composed of two parts: 눈물 (noun meaning 'tears') and 흘리다 (verb meaning 'to spill,' 'to shed,' or 'to let flow'). This phrase is used in both literal contexts—such as when eyes are irritated by smoke—and highly emotional contexts, ranging from profound grief to overwhelming joy. In the hierarchy of Korean vocabulary for crying, this phrase sits in a neutral-to-descriptive position, making it versatile for news reports, literature, and daily conversation alike.
- Literal Meaning
- The act of tears falling from the eyes due to biological or environmental triggers.
- Emotional Meaning
- To express sadness, regret, or happiness through the shedding of tears, often implying a quieter or more poignant form of crying than '울다'.
그녀는 편지를 읽으며 조용히 눈물을 흘렸다.
In Korean culture, the act of 눈물 흘리다 is often portrayed as a sign of sincerity. Unlike loud wailing, which can sometimes be seen as performative in specific traditional contexts, the silent shedding of tears is frequently associated with deep, internalized emotion. You will encounter this phrase frequently in Korean ballads (K-ballads) and melodramas, where the visual of a single tear rolling down a cheek is a powerful cinematic trope. It is important to note that the verb 흘리다 is also used for other liquids like sweat (땀을 흘리다) or nosebleeds (코피를 흘리다), which helps learners understand that the core meaning involves a liquid escaping its container—in this case, the eyes.
슬픈 영화를 보고 눈물을 흘리는 사람들이 많았다.
- Context: Joy
- 기쁨의 눈물을 흘리다 (To shed tears of joy).
Furthermore, the nuance of this phrase can change based on the adverbs used. Adding '펑펑' (profusely) suggests a heavy flow of tears, while '찔끔' suggests just a tiny bit. Understanding these pairings is crucial for reaching an intermediate level of Korean fluency. The phrase remains a staple in daily life, from explaining why your eyes are red to describing the climax of a touching novel.
Grammatically, 눈물 흘리다 functions as a transitive verb phrase. The object 눈물 (tears) is followed by the object marker 을, though in casual spoken Korean, the marker is often omitted (눈물 흘리다). The verb 흘리다 follows the regular conjugation rules for '다' verbs ending in '이'. For example, in the present tense polite form, it becomes 흘려요. In the past tense, it becomes 흘렸어요. Understanding these conjugations is the first step to using the phrase naturally in various social settings.
너무 웃겨서 눈물을 흘렸어요.
When constructing sentences, you can specify the reason for shedding tears using the '~아서/어서' (because) or '~때문에' (due to) structures. For instance, '슬픈 소식을 듣고 눈물을 흘렸다' (I shed tears after hearing the sad news). You can also describe the manner in which someone sheds tears by using adverbs like 남몰래 (secretly), 하염없이 (endlessly), or 조용히 (quietly). These additions provide depth to your descriptions and help convey the specific atmosphere of the scene you are describing.
- Common Pattern 1
- [Reason] + ~어서/아서 + 눈물을 흘리다. (Shedding tears because of...)
- Common Pattern 2
- [Adverb] + 눈물을 흘리다. (Shedding tears in a [way] manner.)
아이들은 매운 음식을 먹고 눈물을 흘리기도 해요.
In more advanced usage, 눈물 흘리다 can be used metaphorically. For example, '피눈물을 흘리다' (to shed tears of blood) is an idiom used to describe experiencing extreme bitterness, resentment, or a heartbreaking loss. This shows that the phrase is not just for physical crying but is deeply embedded in the Korean emotional vocabulary. Whether you are writing a diary entry about a movie or discussing a historical tragedy, mastering the sentence structures around this phrase will significantly enhance your expressive capabilities in Korean.
You will encounter 눈물 흘리다 in a variety of real-world contexts, most notably in media and literature. In the world of K-dramas, this phrase is a staple in scripts. When a character is going through a silent struggle, the stage directions often specify '조용히 눈물을 흘린다' (quietly sheds tears). This is distinct from '오열하다' (to sob loudly), which is reserved for more explosive moments of grief. By paying attention to these distinctions, you can better understand the emotional pacing of Korean storytelling.
주인공이 이별 장면에서 눈물을 흘리는 모습이 인상적이었어요.
In K-pop lyrics, 눈물 흘리다 is used to evoke empathy and shared sorrow. Songwriters often use it to describe the lingering pain of a past relationship or the relief of finding hope. For example, a lyric might say '이제 더 이상 눈물 흘리지 마' (Don't shed any more tears now). This usage is very common in ballads and R&B tracks. In news broadcasting, the phrase is utilized to describe the reactions of citizens during national events, such as memorial services or the return of a long-lost family member. In these cases, it maintains a respectful and descriptive tone.
- Domain: Literature
- Used to describe a character's internal state without needing internal monologue.
- Domain: Daily Conversation
- Used when explaining physical reactions (e.g., cutting onions) or sharing personal stories.
양파를 썰다가 눈물을 흘렸어요.
Finally, in religious or spiritual contexts, 눈물 흘리다 is often used during testimonies or prayers to signify repentance or deep gratitude. It is a phrase that bridges the gap between the purely physical and the deeply spiritual. Whether it's a fan meeting where an idol sheds tears of gratitude to their fans or a documentary about environmental issues, this phrase provides a clear, evocative way to describe the human experience of weeping.
One of the most common mistakes learners make is confusing 눈물 흘리다 with the simple verb 울다 (to cry). While they are related, they are not always interchangeable. 울다 is a general term that includes the sound of crying, whereas 눈물 흘리다 focuses solely on the tears. If someone is wailing loudly but you say they are '눈물을 흘리다', it might sound too clinical or focused only on the moisture, missing the magnitude of their vocal grief. Conversely, using '울다' when someone has a single tear from an onion might sound overly dramatic.
Incorrect: 양파 때문에 울었어요 (Sounds like you were sobbing over an onion).
Correct: 양파 때문에 눈물을 흘렸어요.
Another mistake is the confusion between 흘리다 (to shed/spill) and 흐르다 (to flow). 흘리다 is an active verb where the subject (person) is the one 'letting' the tears fall, while 흐르다 is an intransitive verb where the tears themselves are the subject. You would say '눈물이 흐르다' (Tears flow), but '[사람]이 눈물을 흘리다' (A person sheds tears). Mixing these up—saying '눈물을 흐르다' or '내가 눈물이 흘리다'—is a frequent grammatical error for beginners.
- Error: Subject/Object Mix-up
- Using '눈물이 흘리다' instead of '눈물을 흘리다'. Remember: '을' follows the object being shed.
- Error: Verb Choice
- Using '흘리다' for '울다' in contexts where the sound of crying is the main point.
Additionally, some learners forget the nuances of the verb 흘리다. It can also mean 'to drop' or 'to lose' (like dropping a wallet). While '눈물을 흘리다' is clearly 'to shed tears,' using '흘리다' in other contexts might confuse you if you only associate it with crying. Finally, avoid using 눈물 흘리다 in extremely formal business settings where a more professional term like '비탄에 잠기다' (to be lost in grief) might be more appropriate, although 눈물 흘리다 is generally safe for most situations.
While 눈물 흘리다 is a versatile phrase, Korean offers many alternatives that provide more specific emotional color. Understanding these will help you choose the right word for the right moment. The most basic alternative is 울다, which is the general word for crying. It is less descriptive of the tears themselves and more about the overall state of weeping. If you want to describe someone crying very loudly and uncontrollably, use 통곡하다 (to wail) or 오열하다 (to sob bitterly). These words carry a much heavier emotional weight.
- 울다 (To cry)
- General term, includes sound and emotion. '아이들이 울고 있어요' (The kids are crying).
- 오열하다 (To sob bitterly)
- High intensity, often used in tragic news or drama scenes.
- 눈물을 훔치다 (To wipe away tears)
- Focuses on the action of trying to hide or clean away tears. Often used for someone trying to be brave.
어머니는 몰래 눈물을 훔치셨다.
Another interesting alternative is 눈시울이 붉어지다 (to have one's eyes turn red/well up). This describes the moment before tears actually fall, when the edges of the eyes become red with emotion. It is a very poetic and common way to describe being moved. For a more formal or literary tone, you might see 낙루하다 (to shed tears), though this is much rarer in daily speech. In contrast, 즙 짜다 is a slang term (literally 'to squeeze out juice') used to mock someone for crying or to describe fake crying for sympathy.
Lastly, consider the phrase 눈물이 핑 돌다, which describes tears suddenly welling up in the eyes, often due to a sudden shock or a touching moment. By building a repertoire of these related terms, you can describe the full spectrum of human emotion in Korean, from the first hint of redness in the eyes to a full-blown torrent of tears. Each word carries a different 'temperature' and 'weight,' and choosing '눈물 흘리다' provides a solid, clear middle ground for most descriptions.
Dato curioso
The verb '흘리다' is the causative form of '흐르다' (to flow). This means when you '흘리다' tears, you are grammatically the one 'making' them flow.
Guía de pronunciación
- Pronouncing '눈물' as 'nun-mur' (with an English R). It should be a clear 'l' sound.
- Merging '흘리다' into '흐리다' (which means cloudy/blurry).
- Forgetting the double 'ㄹ' sound in '흘리다', making it sound like '훌리다'.
- Putting too much stress on the second syllable of '눈물'.
- Pronouncing '흘' with a hard 'u' sound like in 'hull' (English); it should be the Korean 'eu' sound.
Ejemplos por nivel
저는 눈물을 흘려요.
I shed tears.
Present tense: 흘려요.
영화가 슬퍼서 눈물을 흘렸어요.
I shed tears because the movie was sad.
Past tense: 흘렸어요.
양파 때문에 눈물을 흘려요.
I shed tears because of the onion.
Noun + 때문에 (because of).
아기가 눈물을 흘려요.
The baby is shedding tears.
Subject: 아기 (baby).
왜 눈물을 흘려요?
Why are you shedding tears?
Question form.
눈물을 흘리지 마세요.
Please don't shed tears.
-지 마세요 (Please don't).
친구는 눈물을 흘리고 있어요.
My friend is shedding tears.
-고 있다 (Progressive tense).
너무 아파서 눈물을 흘렸어요.
I shed tears because it hurt so much.
Adjective + 아서 (because).
슬픈 음악을 들을 때 눈물을 흘려요.
I shed tears when I listen to sad music.
-(으)ㄹ 때 (When...).
그는 편지를 읽고 눈물을 흘렸습니다.
He shed tears after reading the letter.
Formal ending: -습니다.
우리는 기뻐서 눈물을 흘렸어요.
We shed tears of joy.
Emotion + 아서 (reason).
눈물을 흘리는 사람을 봤어요.
I saw a person shedding tears.
Noun-modifying form: -는.
너무 많이 웃어서 눈물을 흘렸어요.
I shed tears because I laughed so much.
Contradictory context (laughter causing tears).
어머니는 드라마를 보며 눈물을 흘리세요.
Mother sheds tears while watching dramas.
Honorific form: 흘리세요.
눈물을 흘리면 기분이 나아질 거예요.
If you shed tears, you will feel better.
-(으)면 (If...).
그녀는 눈물을 흘리며 작별 인사를 했어요.
She said goodbye while shedding tears.
-(으)며 (While...).
헤어질 때 그는 조용히 눈물을 흘렸다.
He quietly shed tears when we parted.
Adverb: 조용히 (quietly).
부모님은 자식의 성공 소식에 눈물을 흘리셨다.
The parents shed tears at the news of their child's success.
Honorific past: 흘리셨다.
눈물을 흘리지 않으려고 노력했어요.
I tried not to shed tears.
-지 않으려고 노력하다 (Try not to).
그 영화의 마지막 장면에서 모두가 눈물을 흘렸다.
Everyone shed tears at the last scene of that movie.
Subject: 모두 (everyone).
고향 생각을 하니 저절로 눈물이 흘러요.
Thinking of my hometown, tears fall naturally.
Note the difference: 눈물이 흐르다 (tears flow).
그녀는 남몰래 눈물을 흘리며 아픔을 참았다.
She endured the pain while secretly shedding tears.
Adverb: 남몰래 (secretly).
감동적인 연설을 듣고 많은 이들이 눈물을 흘렸다.
Many people shed tears after hearing the touching speech.
Adjective: 감동적인 (touching).
그는 억울해서 눈물을 흘릴 수밖에 없었다.
He had no choice but to shed tears because it was unfair.
-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (Have no choice but to).
그는 지난날의 잘못을 뉘우치며 눈물을 흘렸다.
He shed tears while repenting for his past mistakes.
Verb: 뉘우치다 (to repent).
이산가족들은 상봉 현장에서 뜨거운 눈물을 흘렸다.
Separated families shed hot tears at the reunion site.
Adjective: 뜨거운 (hot/passionate).
나라를 잃은 슬픔에 온 백성이 눈물을 흘렸다.
The whole nation shed tears in sorrow over losing their country.
Subject: 온 백성 (the entire people).
그는 배신감에 피눈물을 흘리며 복수를 다짐했다.
He shed tears of blood in betrayal and vowed revenge.
Idiom: 피눈물을 흘리다.
오랜 가뭄 끝에 비가 내리자 농부들은 눈물을 흘렸다.
When it rained after a long drought, the farmers shed tears.
Context: Relief/Gratitude.
그녀의 희생적인 삶은 많은 사람들에게 눈물을 흘리게 했다.
Her sacrificial life made many people shed tears.
Causative: 흘리게 하다 (make someone shed).
그는 담담하게 말했지만, 눈가에는 눈물이 고여 흘러내렸다.
He spoke calmly, but tears welled up and flowed down his eyes.
Compound verb: 흘러내리다.
아무리 슬퍼도 남들 앞에서는 눈물을 흘리지 않았다.
No matter how sad he was, he didn't shed tears in front of others.
아무리 ~어도 (No matter how...).
작가는 주인공의 고뇌를 눈물을 흘리는 행위로 형상화했다.
The author embodied the protagonist's anguish through the act of shedding tears.
Academic term: 형상화하다 (to embody/visualize).
그는 자신의 무력함에 분노하며 마른 눈물을 흘렸다.
He shed dry tears, raging at his own helplessness.
Metaphor: 마른 눈물 (dry tears).
역사의 비극 앞에서 우리는 모두 눈물을 흘릴 수밖에 없다.
In the face of historical tragedy, we all have no choice but to shed tears.
Philosophical context.
그녀는 회한의 눈물을 흘리며 지나온 세월을 되돌아보았다.
She looked back on the passing years, shedding tears of regret.
Noun: 회한 (remorse/regret).
거짓 눈물을 흘리는 정치인들의 모습에 대중은 냉소했다.
The public was cynical at the sight of politicians shedding crocodile tears.
Metaphor: 거짓 눈물 (false/crocodile tears).
그의 연주는 청중의 심금을 울려 눈물을 흘리게 만들었다.
His performance touched the audience's heartstrings and made them shed tears.
Idiom: 심금을 울리다 (touch heartstrings).
참회하며 눈물을 흘리는 그의 모습에서 진정성이 느껴졌다.
Sincerity was felt in the way he shed tears while repenting.
Noun: 진정성 (sincerity).
고통 속에서도 타인을 위해 눈물을 흘릴 줄 아는 사람은 위대하다.
A person who can shed tears for others even in pain is great.
-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 (Know how to).
성현의 가르침을 되새기며 제자들은 감복하여 눈물을 흘렸다.
Reflecting on the sage's teachings, the disciples were moved to shed tears.
Archaic/Formal: 성현 (sage), 감복하다 (be moved).
그의 문학 세계는 고독과 소외 속에서 눈물을 흘리는 자들을 대변한다.
His literary world represents those who shed tears in solitude and alienation.
Verb: 대변하다 (to represent/speak for).
인간의 근원적인 슬픔은 때로 눈물을 흘리는 행위만으로는 해소되지 않는다.
Humanity's fundamental sorrow is sometimes not resolved through the act of shedding tears alone.
Philosophical/Existential context.
전쟁의 참상을 목격한 기자는 펜을 멈추고 눈물을 흘릴 수밖에 없었다.
The reporter who witnessed the horrors of war had no choice but to stop their pen and shed tears.
Noun: 참상 (horrific scene).
그녀의 눈물은 단순한 감정의 배출이 아니라, 존재의 외침으로서 눈물을 흘리는 것이었다.
Her tears were not a simple release of emotion, but a shedding of tears as a cry of existence.
Complex structure: ~이 아니라 ~으로서.
망국의 한을 품고 눈물을 흘리며 타국을 떠도는 이들의 삶은 고달팠다.
The lives of those wandering in foreign lands, shedding tears with the sorrow of a lost nation, were weary.
Historical/Poetic: 망국의 한 (sorrow of a lost nation).
법정에서 피고인은 자신의 과오를 인정하며 참회의 눈물을 흘렸다.
In court, the defendant admitted their faults and shed tears of repentance.
Legal context.
예술가는 고통을 승화시켜 눈물을 흘리는 대신 아름다운 선율을 만들어냈다.
The artist sublimated their pain and, instead of shedding tears, created a beautiful melody.
Verb: 승화시키다 (to sublimate).
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
— Not even worth shedding tears over. Used when someone is not worth your sorrow.
그런 사람 때문에 눈물 흘릴 가치도 없어.
— To regret while shedding tears. Used for deep remorse.
그는 뒤늦게 눈물을 흘리며 후회했다.
— To make someone shed tears. Used for things or people that cause sadness or joy.
이 노래는 항상 나를 눈물 흘리게 만든다.
— To promise while shedding tears. Indicates a very sincere or desperate promise.
그는 다시는 도박을 하지 않겠다고 눈물을 흘리며 약속했다.
— To pray while shedding tears. Common in religious contexts.
어머니는 아들의 건강을 위해 눈물을 흘리며 기도하셨다.
— To appeal while shedding tears. Used when asking for help or mercy.
그녀는 자신의 무죄를 눈물을 흘리며 호소했다.
— To leave while shedding tears. Used for sad departures.
그는 정든 고향을 눈물을 흘리며 떠났다.
— To laugh while shedding tears. Used for bittersweet moments or extreme laughter.
우리는 옛날 이야기를 하며 눈물을 흘리며 웃었다.
— To apologize while shedding tears. Shows deep sincerity in an apology.
그는 친구에게 눈물을 흘리며 사과했다.
— To not shed tears. Used for stoic or cold people.
그는 어떤 슬픈 일을 겪어도 눈물을 흘리지 않았다.
Modismos y expresiones
— To shed tears of blood. It means to feel extreme bitterness, resentment, or a heartbreaking loss.
그는 억울한 누명을 쓰고 피눈물을 흘렸다.
High/Literary— To shed crocodile tears. It means to pretend to be sad or to show fake sympathy.
그 정치인은 악어의 눈물을 흘리며 유권자들을 속였다.
Neutral/Critical— To shed both tears and snot. It means to cry very hard and messily.
아이가 넘어져서 눈물 콧물 다 흘리며 울고 있어요.
Informal— To have tears in one's eyes. It means to be on the verge of crying but holding it back.
그녀는 눈물을 머금고 미소를 지었다.
Literary— Tears block one's vision. It means to be so sad that one cannot see clearly, often used figuratively for a tragic situation.
그의 딱한 사정을 들으니 눈물이 앞을 가린다.
Neutral/Common— To squeeze out tears. It often implies forced or artificial crying to get sympathy.
동정심을 얻으려고 일부러 눈물을 짜지 마.
Informal/Slang— To eat bread soaked in tears. It means to experience extreme poverty or hardship.
그는 눈물 젖은 빵을 먹어 본 사람만이 성공할 수 있다고 말했다.
Literary/Metaphorical— Tears run dry. It means to have cried so much that no more tears come out, or to become emotionless.
너무 많이 울어서 이제 눈물도 다 말랐다.
Neutral— To spend one's days in tears. It means to live a life of constant sorrow.
그녀는 남편을 잃고 눈물로 세월을 보냈다.
Literary— To scatter tears. A poetic way to say shedding many tears, often for a cause or a loved one.
열사들은 조국의 독립을 위해 눈물을 뿌렸다.
Archaic/PoeticFamilia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Origen de la palabra
Composed of the native Korean words '눈' (eye) + '물' (water) = '눈물' (tears), and the verb '흘리다' (to cause to flow/spill).
Significado original: The literal meaning is 'to cause eye-water to flow.'
Native Korean (Altaic family / Koreanic).Summary
The phrase '눈물 흘리다' is the most descriptive way to say 'shed tears' in Korean. It is essential for describing emotional scenes in literature and media. Example: '그는 감동해서 눈물을 흘렸다' (He shed tears because he was moved).
- 눈물 흘리다 means 'to shed tears' and focuses on the physical sight of tears falling.
- It is used for various emotions like sadness, joy, and even physical pain like cutting onions.
- Grammatically, it uses '눈물' as the object and '흘리다' (to shed/spill) as the verb.
- It differs from '울다' (to cry) which implies the sound and overall state of weeping.
Contenido relacionado
Más palabras de emotions
받아들이다
A2Aceptar, admitir, acoger.
아파하다
A2Sentir dolor o pena (especialmente observado en otros).
감탄스럽다
A2Su capacidad para mantener la calma es realmente admirable.
감탄
A2Admiration or marvel; a feeling of wonder.
감탄하다
A2Admirar o maravillarse; expresar asombro ante algo bello, talentoso o grandioso.
기특하다
B1Admirable por una buena acción o un pensamiento maduro.
충고
B1Orientación o recomendaciones ofrecidas con respecto a una acción futura prudente; consejo sincero.
애정
B1Afecto; un sentimiento suave de cariño o gusto.
애틋하다
B2Su amor tierno y nostálgico conmovió a todos.
살갑다
B22
