Meaning
The kanji 泣 (naku) means “to cry” or “to weep,” capturing the act of shedding tears due to strong emotions like sadness, joy, frustration, or pain. It's a frequently used character for expressing human emotional responses involving tears. Its structure offers a visual clue to its meaning: the left side features the radical 氵 (sanzui), the 'water' radical, which directly represents tears.
The right side, 立 (tatsu), means 'to stand.' While 立 can contribute phonetically, in 泣 it's often interpreted visually as a person standing while crying, or simply representing the human form expressing emotion. Together, the water (tears) and the human form (standing) visually represent the act of crying. This kanji has 8 strokes and is typically taught in the first grade in Japanese elementary schools, making it a foundational character for early learners, despite its official JLPT N3 classification for functional use.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi reading for 泣 is キュウ (kyū). This reading, derived from Chinese, is generally less common in everyday Japanese words for "crying" compared to its Kun'yomi counterparts. When キュウ is used, it often appears in more formal, literary, or classical compounds. These usages typically convey deep sorrow, lamentation, or an intense, often symbolic, form of crying.
- 泣血 (kyūuketsu) — shedding tears of blood; refers to extreme grief or deep sorrow.
- 泣訴 (kyūso) — appealing tearfully; to make a tearful plea or complaint.
- 号泣 (gōkyū) — wailing; loud crying; often used to describe uncontrollable sobbing, a very strong form of crying.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The primary Kun'yomi reading for 泣 is な-く (naku), meaning "to cry" or "to weep." It is the most frequently encountered reading and form in modern Japanese. Related forms include なき (naki), which often appears as a noun or as part of compound nouns, and な-ける (nakeru), which can mean "to be moved to tears" or "to be able to cry" (potential form).
- 泣く (naku) — to cry, to weep. This is the basic verb form.
例: 悲しくて泣く (kanashikute naku) — to cry because of sadness.
- 泣き声 (nakigoe) — a crying voice, a sob. This compound uses なき as a noun.
例: 赤ちゃんの泣き声 (akachan no nakigoe) — a baby's crying voice.
- 泣き虫 (nakimushi) — a crybaby. A common colloquial term.
例: 彼は本当に泣き虫だ (kare wa hontō ni nakimushi da) — He's a real crybaby.
- 泣ける (nakeru) — to be moved to tears, to feel like crying. This form conveys an emotional response.
例: 感動して泣ける (kandō shite nakeru) — to be moved to tears.
- 泣き言 (nakigoto) — complaints, grumbling (literally "crying words").
例: 泣き言を言う (nakigoto o iu) — to complain.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 泣 appears in many compounds that convey different nuances of crying and related emotional states. They offer a rich vocabulary for describing human sentiment.
- Actions and Intensity of Crying:
- 大泣き (ōonaki) — loud crying, bawling. Refers to crying intensely and loudly.
- 泣き入り (nakiiri) — bursting into tears. Describes the sudden onset of crying.
- 泣き明かす (nakiakasu) — to cry all night. To spend the entire night weeping.
- 泣き止む (nakiyamu) — to stop crying.
- 泣き崩れる (nakikuzureru) — to break down in tears, to collapse crying. Implies a loss of composure due to intense emotion.
- Emotional States and Expressions:
- 泣き笑い (nakiwarai) — crying and laughing simultaneously; a bittersweet smile. Describes a state where joy and sorrow are intertwined.
- 泣き暮らす (nakikurasu) — to spend one's days crying; to live in sorrow.
- 感泣 (kankyū) — shedding tears of gratitude or emotion; being moved to tears. An On'yomi compound describing tears shed from deep feeling or gratitude.
- 嗚咽 (oetsu) — sobbing. While 咽 means 'throat', this compound describes the sound and act of sobbing, often used to describe crying with gasps.
- Figurative and Idiomatic Expressions:
- 泣き寝入り (nakineiri) — to cry oneself to sleep; to silently put up with injustice. To suffer something unfair without complaining, often implying resignation.
- 泣き落とし (nakiotoshi) — coaxing by feigned tears; tearful persuasion. To convince someone by pretending to cry or by using emotional manipulation.
- 泣き所 (nakidokoro) — weak point, vulnerable spot (literally "crying place"). A person's sensitive point that, when touched, causes them distress or tears.
Example Sentences
子供が泣いています。
Kodomo ga naite imasu.
The child is crying.
悲しい映画を見て、私は泣いてしまいました。
Kanashii eiga wo mite, watashi wa naite shimaimashita.
I watched a sad movie and ended up crying.
嬉しすぎて、彼女は泣きながら笑っていた。
Ureshisugite, kanojo wa nakinagara waratte ita.
She was so happy that she was laughing while crying.
試験に落第して、彼は大声で泣いた。
Shiken ni rakudai shite, kare wa oogoe de naita.
He failed the exam and cried loudly.
母親は、再会した娘を見て感極まって泣いた。
Hahaoya wa, saikai shita musume wo mite kankiwamatte naita.
The mother cried, overwhelmed with emotion, upon seeing her reunited daughter.
その感動的なストーリーには、思わず泣けてしまう。
Sono kandouteki na story niwa, omowazu nakete shimau.
That moving story unexpectedly brings tears to my eyes.
悔しすぎて、負けた選手は地面に突っぷして泣いた。
Kuyashisugite, maketa senshu wa jimen ni tsuppushite naita.
Overcome with regret, the defeated player fell to the ground and cried.
彼の必死の訴えに、聞いていた人々は皆泣いた。
Kare no hisshi no uttae ni, kiite ita hitobito wa mina naita.
Everyone who heard his desperate appeal cried.
泣き言を言っても何も始まらない。
Nakigoto wo ittemo nanimo hajimaranai.
Complaining won't start anything.
どんなに辛くても、泣きたくない。
Donna ni tsurakutemo, nakitakunai.
No matter how tough it is, I don't want to cry.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 泣 (naku), visualize its components. The left side is the 'water' radical 氵 (sanzui), which evokes images of liquid, and here it clearly represents tears. On the right is 立 (tatsu), meaning 'to stand.'
Imagine a person standing upright, with tears (氵) streaming down their face. This image of someone standing, unable to control their emotions as tears flow, vividly brings to mind the act of crying. Alternatively, think of the 'water' radical as teardrops and the 'stand' radical as the eyes from which they fall. This simple visual story reinforces the meaning of 'to cry' or 'to weep.'