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A2 noun Neutre #3,000 le plus courant 3 min de lecture

눈물

/nunmul/
Entraîne-toi

Overview

The Korean word for 'tears' is '눈물' (nun-mul). This single word encapsulates the emotional and physiological phenomenon of shedding tears. Let's break down its components and usage.

The word '눈물' is a compound noun, formed from two simpler Korean words: '눈' (nun) meaning 'eye,' and '물' (mul) meaning 'water.' When combined, they literally translate to 'eye water,' which perfectly describes tears. This etymology is quite straightforward and helps in understanding the word's meaning even for beginner learners of Korean.

In terms of pronunciation, '눈물' is pronounced as [nunmul]. The initial 'ㄴ' (n) sound is similar to the 'n' in 'no,' and the 'ㅜ' (u) sound is like the 'oo' in 'moon.' The 'ㅁ' (m) sound is like the 'm' in 'me,' and again, the 'ㅜ' (u) sound is the same. The final 'ㄹ' (l) sound at the end of '물' is a liquid consonant that can sometimes sound like an 'r' when it follows a vowel, but in this case, it's generally a clear 'l' sound at the end of the syllable.

'눈물' is a noun and can be used in various grammatical structures. For instance, to say 'to shed tears' or 'to cry,' you would typically use the verb '흘리다' (heul-li-da), which means 'to shed' or 'to flow.' So, the phrase '눈물을 흘리다' (nun-mu-reul heul-li-da) directly translates to 'to shed tears.' This is a very common expression.

Beyond just the literal meaning, '눈물' carries significant emotional weight in Korean culture and language. Tears are often associated with deep emotions such as sadness, grief, joy, relief, and even frustration. For example, '기쁨의 눈물' (gi-ppeum-ui nun-mul) means 'tears of joy,' while '슬픔의 눈물' (seul-peum-ui nun-mul) means 'tears of sadness.'

Idiomatic expressions involving '눈물' are also prevalent. For instance, '눈물이 마르다' (nun-mu-ri ma-reu-da) literally means 'tears dry up,' and it can be used to describe a situation where someone has cried so much that they have no more tears left, or metaphorically, when a period of intense sadness comes to an end. Another expression is '눈물이 쏙 빠지다' (nun-mu-ri ssok ppa-ji-da), which means 'to cry one's eyes out' or 'to burst into tears,' emphasizing the sudden and intense nature of the crying.

In literature, music, and everyday conversation, '눈물' is a powerful word used to convey profound human experiences. Understanding its etymology, pronunciation, grammatical usage, and cultural nuances can greatly enhance one's comprehension and expression in Korean.

Exemples

1

그녀의 눈에서 눈물이 흘러내렸다.

General situation describing someone crying.

Tears flowed from her eyes.

2

기쁨의 눈물이었다.

Describing the reason for crying, often after a happy event.

They were tears of joy.

3

그 소식을 듣고 저도 모르게 눈물이 왈칵 쏟아졌다.

Describes an overwhelming emotional reaction to news.

Upon hearing the news, tears suddenly gushed out.

4

어머니는 아이를 보며 눈물을 글썽였다.

Describing someone on the verge of crying, but not yet fully crying.

The mother's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at her child.

5

그는 눈물을 닦으며 애써 웃었다.

Describing someone trying to compose themselves after crying.

He wiped away his tears and tried to smile.

Collocations courantes

눈물 흘리다
눈물 젖다
눈물 고이다
눈물 겹다

Souvent confondu avec

눈물 vs 콧물
tears come from eyes, snot comes from nose

Modèles grammaticaux

눈물을 흘리다 (to shed tears) 눈물이 나다 (to have tears well up/flow) 눈물샘 (tear glands)

Comment l'utiliser

Notes d'usage

When using '눈물' in Korean, it's typically combined with verbs that describe the act of shedding tears. The most common phrase is '눈물을 흘리다' (nunmureul heullida), which literally translates to 'to shed tears.' For example, '그녀는 슬픔에 눈물을 흘렸다' (geunyeoneun seulpeume nunmureul heullyeotda) means 'She shed tears in sorrow.' Another common expression is '눈물이 나다' (nunmuri nada), meaning 'to have tears come out' or 'to start crying,' often implying an involuntary reaction. For instance, '감동해서 눈물이 났다' (gamdonghaeseo nunmuri natda) means 'I was so moved that tears came out.' It's also frequently used in metaphorical contexts, like '눈물 젖은 빵' (nunmul jeojeun ppang), meaning 'bread soaked in tears,' which refers to hardship. The word itself is relatively neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Erreurs courantes

A common mistake might be to confuse '눈물' (tears) with '콧물' (conmul), which means nasal discharge or snot. Both words share '물' (mul) for water, but the first part '눈' (eye) vs. '코' (nose) differentiates them. Always pay attention to the first syllable to avoid this confusion.

Astuces

💡

Use with '흘리다' (heullida) for 'to shed tears'.

It's common to pair '눈물' with the verb '흘리다' to express the act of crying or shedding tears. For example, '눈물을 흘리다' means 'to shed tears.' This is a natural and frequently used collocation in Korean.
💡

Don't confuse with '눈' (nun) for 'eye' or 'snow'.

While '눈물' contains '눈' (nun), which means 'eye' or 'snow,' it's important to remember that '눈물' specifically refers to tears. The context will usually make the meaning clear, but be mindful of the different meanings of '눈'.
💡

Can be used figuratively to express deep sorrow or emotion.

Beyond literal tears, '눈물' can be used figuratively to convey intense sadness, pain, or strong emotion. For example, '눈물 나는 이야기' (nunmul naneun iyagi) means 'a tear-jerking story,' indicating a very sad or moving narrative.

Origine du mot

The Korean word '눈물' (nunmul) for 'tears' is a compound word formed from '눈' (nun), meaning 'eye', and '물' (mul), meaning 'water'. This etymology directly reflects the physical nature of tears as water secreted from the eyes. The combination of these two basic, ancient Korean morphemes highlights a straightforward and descriptive approach to naming in the language. While tracing the exact historical first usage of this specific compound '눈물' is challenging without extensive historical linguistic texts, the individual components '눈' and '물' are deeply rooted in Old Korean and have maintained their core meanings over millennia. '눈' (eye) is believed to have Proto-Koreanic origins, and variations of it appear in related Altaic languages. Similarly, '물' (water) is a fundamental and ancient term, also with likely Proto-Koreanic roots. The formation '눈물' itself points to an intuitive linguistic process where observable phenomena are described by combining existing vocabulary that represents their constituent parts. It's a clear and literal construction, indicating that the concept of 'tears' was understood and named directly based on its visual and material characteristics. There isn't a complex metaphorical development or borrowing from other languages evident in this particular word; rather, it's a very indigenous and transparent naming convention.

Contexte culturel

In Korean culture, '눈물' (nunmul), meaning tears, carries a profound emotional weight. Tears are often seen as a natural and understandable expression of deep feeling, whether it's sorrow, joy, or even anger. There's a strong cultural emphasis on empathy and understanding when someone is shedding tears. For instance, during funerals or memorial services, open weeping is not only accepted but expected as a sign of respect and grief for the deceased. Similarly, tears of joy at significant life events, like weddings or reunions, are warmly received. Historically, in Korean literature and folklore, tears frequently symbolize a character's inner turmoil, resilience, or ultimate triumph, adding layers of meaning to narratives. This cultural backdrop means that the act of crying is rarely judged as weakness but rather acknowledged as a powerful human response.

Astuce mémo

The word '눈물' (nunmul) for tears can be broken down: '눈' (nun) means eye, and '물' (mul) means water. So, literally, 'eyewater'. This makes it very easy to remember!

Questions fréquentes

4 questions
'눈물' (nunmul) is a Korean word that translates to 'tears' in English. It refers to the clear liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands, which serves to cleanse, moisten, and lubricate the eyes. Tears are often associated with strong emotions such as sadness, joy, frustration, or pain, and can be a physiological response to physical irritation or emotional distress. The act of crying, or shedding '눈물', is a universal human experience.
'눈물' can be used in various contexts. For example, '그녀의 눈물이 흘렀다' (Geunyeoui nunmuri heulleotda) means 'Her tears flowed.' Another example is '기쁨의 눈물을 흘렸다' (Gippeumui nunmureul heulleotda), which translates to 'I shed tears of joy.' It can also be combined with other words, such as '눈물샘' (nunmursaem) for 'tear duct' or '눈물방울' (nunmulbangul) for 'teardrop.' Its usage is quite similar to how 'tears' is used in English sentences.
Yes, there are several idioms and phrases in Korean that incorporate '눈물.' One common phrase is '눈물 콧물 다 빼다' (nunmul honmul da ppaeda), which literally means 'to shed all tears and snot,' and is used to describe crying uncontrollably or profusely, often due to extreme sadness or frustration. Another is '눈물 젖은 빵' (nunmul jeojeun ppang), meaning 'bread soaked with tears,' which refers to hardship or suffering endured to earn a living, symbolizing a life of poverty and struggle.
In Korean culture, '눈물' holds significant emotional and social weight. While expressing emotions openly is becoming more accepted, traditionally, overt displays of sadness were sometimes seen as a sign of weakness, especially for men. However, tears of joy or gratitude are generally viewed positively. In media, especially K-dramas, '눈물' is often a powerful tool for conveying deep emotions, character development, and narrative intensity, resonating strongly with audiences and highlighting the emotional depth of characters.

Teste-toi

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슬픈 영화를 보면 자연스럽게 _____이(가) 나요.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
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기쁨의 _____을(를) 흘리며 그녀는 우승 소식을 들었다.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
fill blank

양파를 썰면 _____이(가) 나와서 요리하기가 힘들어요.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

Score : /3

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