A2 noun 3 دقیقه مطالعه

泪水

Tears are the clear liquid that comes from your eyes when you are sad or hurt.

lèi shuǐ

Explanation at your level:

Tears are the water that comes from your eyes. You cry tears when you are sad. Sometimes you cry tears when you are very happy, too. It is a very common word.

When you are upset, you might cry. The liquid that falls from your eyes is called tears. You can say 'I saw tears in her eyes' when someone is sad or moved by something.

Tears are the saline drops that our eyes produce. We often use the phrase 'burst into tears' to describe someone who starts crying suddenly. It is a word used to describe deep emotional responses in books and movies.

Beyond the literal meaning, tears are used metaphorically to describe intense emotional states. You might encounter phrases like 'tears of joy' or 'fighting back tears.' The word is essential for describing characters in narratives or discussing emotional health.

The word tears carries significant literary and psychological weight. It is often used to symbolize vulnerability or catharsis. In academic or formal writing, one might discuss the 'physiological response of lacrimation,' but in most contexts, 'tears' remains the most powerful and evocative term for emotional release.

In advanced usage, tears can be part of complex idioms that challenge the speaker's sincerity, such as 'crocodile tears.' The word's history is deeply embedded in human culture, representing the universal nature of grief and empathy. Understanding the nuances of how and when to use this word—and when to use more formal alternatives—is a mark of high-level proficiency.

واژه در 30 ثانیه

  • Clear liquid from eyes.
  • Sign of emotion.
  • Used in many idioms.
  • Pronounced like 'teers'.

When we talk about tears, we are referring to the clear, salty liquid that flows from our eyes. While they serve a very important biological purpose—keeping our eyes moist and washing away dust—they are most famous for being the physical sign of our emotions.

Think of tears as a bridge between your heart and the outside world. Whether you are shedding tears of joy at a wedding or tears of sorrow during a difficult time, they are a universal language that everyone understands. They are not just water; they are a deep expression of the human experience.

The word tear comes from the Old English word tēar, which has roots in the Proto-Germanic tahr-. It is fascinating to see how this word has stayed relatively consistent throughout history, tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European dakru-, which is also the ancestor of the Latin lacrima.

Historically, tears have always been linked to the soul and the expression of grief. In many ancient cultures, the shedding of tears was seen as a sacred act or a necessary part of the mourning process. It is a word that carries significant etymological weight, connecting us to our ancestors who expressed their humanity in the exact same way we do today.

In English, we use tears in many different contexts, ranging from the literal to the poetic. You might hear someone say they are 'bursting into tears' or 'fighting back tears' when they are trying to stay strong.

Common collocations include shed tears, tears of joy, and crocodile tears. The register can vary from the very formal—'he shed tears for his lost kingdom'—to the very casual—'that movie had me in tears.' It is a versatile word that fits perfectly into both everyday conversation and dramatic literature.

Idioms involving tears often highlight the intensity of feelings. 1. Crocodile tears: To fake sadness. 2. Tears of joy: Crying because you are very happy. 3. In tears: The state of crying. 4. Burst into tears: To start crying suddenly. 5. Laugh until you cry: To laugh so hard that tears form.

These phrases help us describe complex emotional states with just a few words. Using them correctly will make your English sound much more natural and expressive.

Grammatically, tears is almost always used in the plural form when referring to the liquid itself. It is a countable noun, though we often talk about 'a tear' when referring to a single drop.

The pronunciation is /tɪərz/ in British English and /tɪrz/ in American English. Interestingly, it is a homograph with the verb 'to tear' (meaning to rip), but they are pronounced differently—the verb rhymes with 'care,' while the noun rhymes with 'ears.' Remember this distinction to avoid confusion!

Fun Fact

It shares a common root with the word 'lacrimal' from Latin.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tɪərz/

Sounds like 'teers'.

US /tɪrz/

Sounds like 'teers'.

Common Errors

  • Confusing with 'tiers'
  • Pronouncing like 'tare' (rip)
  • Misplacing the plural 's'

Rhymes With

ears fears gears peers years

Difficulty Rating

خواندن 1/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Basic usage

Speaking 1/5

Common word

شنیدن 1/5

Clear sound

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

eye cry sad happy

Learn Next

emotional grief sympathy catharsis

پیشرفته

lacrimal lamentation poignant

Grammar to Know

Countable vs Uncountable

Tears are countable.

Homographs

Tear/Tear pronunciation.

Verb-Noun Collocations

Shed tears.

Examples by Level

1

She has tears in her eyes.

She has water from eyes.

Plural noun.

2

The baby is crying tears.

Baby is sad.

Verb + object.

3

I see a tear on your face.

One drop.

Singular use.

4

Do not cry tears.

Be happy.

Imperative.

5

His tears are sad.

He is unhappy.

Possessive.

6

Tears are wet.

Liquid fact.

General statement.

7

She wiped her tears.

Cleaned face.

Past tense.

8

No more tears today.

Be happy now.

Quantifier.

1

She burst into tears when she heard the news.

2

He wiped the tears from his cheeks.

3

There were tears of joy in her eyes.

4

The sad movie brought me to tears.

5

She tried to hide her tears.

6

Tears rolled down his face.

7

Are those tears of happiness?

8

I could not stop the tears.

1

She was moved to tears by the beautiful performance.

2

The child was in tears after falling down.

3

He fought back tears during the funeral.

4

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.

5

The story was enough to bring anyone to tears.

6

She shed tears of relief when she heard the news.

7

His eyes were filled with tears.

8

Don't let me see you in tears again.

1

She shed crocodile tears to gain sympathy from the crowd.

2

The sheer scale of the tragedy moved the entire nation to tears.

3

He was unable to hold back his tears of frustration.

4

The documentary left the audience in a flood of tears.

5

She managed to smile through her tears.

6

Despite her best efforts, tears streamed down her face.

7

The memory brought tears to his eyes even years later.

8

Her speech was punctuated by tears.

1

The protagonist's stoicism crumbled, and she finally gave way to tears.

2

His apology was met with silence and a few quiet tears.

3

The scene was a poignant display of raw, unadulterated tears.

4

She found a strange comfort in the catharsis of her own tears.

5

The painting captured the very essence of silent, internal tears.

6

He spoke of the war with tears in his voice.

7

The weight of the situation was etched in her tears.

8

Her tears were a testament to the depth of her loss.

1

The lacrimal response was instantaneous, a cascade of tears born of profound grief.

2

In the Victorian era, the public display of tears was often strictly codified.

3

Her tears were not merely a sign of sadness, but a complex tapestry of relief and exhaustion.

4

He wept tears of rage, feeling the injustice of the situation deeply.

5

The poet described the morning dew as the earth's own tears.

6

There is a profound dignity in the shedding of honest tears.

7

She navigated the conversation with a grace that masked her unshed tears.

8

The sheer volume of his tears spoke louder than any words could.

ترکیب‌های رایج

shed tears
burst into tears
tears of joy
crocodile tears
fight back tears
tears welled up
flood of tears
tears of sorrow
wipe away tears
tears streamed down

Idioms & Expressions

"crocodile tears"

fake sadness

He cried crocodile tears to get his way.

casual

"burst into tears"

start crying suddenly

She burst into tears when she heard the news.

neutral

"tears of joy"

crying because you are happy

They were tears of joy at the wedding.

neutral

"laugh until you cry"

laughing so hard you produce tears

That joke made me laugh until I cried.

casual

"in tears"

crying

She was in tears all afternoon.

neutral

"move to tears"

make someone cry with emotion

The story moved me to tears.

formal

Easily Confused

泪水 vs Tiers

Homophones

Tiers are levels, tears are eye liquid.

The stadium had many tiers.

泪水 vs Tear (verb)

Same spelling

Verb means to rip.

Don't tear the paper.

泪水 vs Tares

Similar sound

Tares are weeds.

The field was full of tares.

泪水 vs Tares

Homophone

Tares is a type of plant.

The wheat was choked by tares.

Sentence Patterns

B1

Subject + shed + tears

He shed tears of joy.

A2

Subject + burst into + tears

She burst into tears.

B2

Tears + welled up + in + noun

Tears welled up in her eyes.

A2

Subject + wipe away + tears

He wiped away his tears.

A2

Subject + be + in + tears

They were in tears.

خانواده کلمه

Nouns

teardrop a single drop of tear

Verbs

tear up to become tearful

Adjectives

tearful full of tears

مرتبط

lacrimal medical term for tear-related

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

weeping (formal) tears (neutral) crying (casual)

اشتباهات رایج

Using 'tear' as an uncountable noun Use 'tears' (plural)
Tears are usually referred to in the plural.
Confusing 'tears' with 'tiers' Tiers are levels/layers
Homophones with different meanings.
Confusing 'tears' (noun) with 'tears' (verb) Check context
The verb means to rip and is pronounced differently.
Saying 'crying tears' as a tautology Just say 'crying'
Crying already implies the production of tears.
Using 'tears' for inanimate objects Use 'droplets'
Tears are specific to living beings.

Tips

💡

Rhyme Time

Remember 'tears' rhymes with 'years'.

💡

Context Matters

Use 'tears' for the liquid, not the action.

🌍

Emotional Honesty

Western culture values tears as honest.

💡

Plurality

Always use 'tears' for the liquid.

💡

Clear Vowels

Make sure to emphasize the 'ee' sound.

💡

Tear vs Tier

Tears are for eyes, tiers are for cakes.

💡

Chemicals

Emotional tears have different proteins.

💡

Flashcards

Use images of crying eyes.

💡

Metaphors

Use 'tears of joy' for positive events.

💡

Verb vs Noun

Tear (rip) rhymes with 'care'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Tears come from your 'ears' (not really, but it rhymes!).

Visual Association

Imagine a single, sparkling teardrop falling from an eye.

Word Web

crying sadness emotion eyes

چالش

Write a sentence using 'tears' today.

ریشه کلمه

Old English

Original meaning: A drop of water from the eye

بافت فرهنگی

Crying is generally accepted, but cultural norms vary on public displays.

Tears are often seen as a sign of emotional honesty in Western cultures.

'Tears in Heaven' by Eric Clapton 'Tears of a Clown' by Smokey Robinson

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a funeral

  • shedding tears
  • tears of sorrow
  • tears of loss

At a wedding

  • tears of joy
  • happy tears
  • tears in her eyes

Watching a movie

  • brought to tears
  • burst into tears
  • crying tears

Medical checkup

  • excessive tears
  • eye irritation
  • lacrimal glands

Conversation Starters

"What was the last movie that brought you to tears?"

"Do you think it is okay for adults to cry in public?"

"Have you ever cried tears of joy?"

"How do you handle someone who is in tears?"

"Is it easier to show tears or hide them?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you were moved to tears.

What does the word 'tears' mean to you?

Write about the difference between happy and sad tears.

How do you comfort someone who is in tears?

سوالات متداول

8 سوال

No, they can be from joy or irritation.

Like 'teers'.

Yes, but with a different meaning (to rip).

Fake sadness.

It is redundant; just say 'I am crying'.

For emotional release or eye protection.

Yes, you can have one tear or many tears.

Years, fears, gears.

خودت رو بسنج

fill blank A1

She has ___ in her eyes.

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: tears

Tears come from eyes.

multiple choice A2

What does 'burst into tears' mean?

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Start crying

It means to start crying suddenly.

true false B1

Tears are only for sadness.

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: نادرست

Tears can be for joy too.

match pairs B1

Word

معنی

All matched!

Matching idioms to meanings.

sentence order B2

کلمات زیر رو بزن تا جمله رو بسازی
درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح:

Correct structure is Subject + Verb + Prep + Object.

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