What it means
눈물 means tears — both literal tears from crying and figurative expressions of deep emotion. 눈 = eye, 물 = water. A central word in K-drama emotional vocabulary.
Nuance & when to use
눈물을 흘리다 = to shed tears. 눈물이 나다 = tears come out (involuntarily). 눈물을 참다 = to hold back tears. 눈물샘이 터지다 = the tear ducts burst (crying hard). K-dramas are famous for 눈물 scenes — emotionally powerful moments that make viewers cry.
⚠ Common mistake
눈물 is just tears. 슬픔 = sadness (the emotion). 울다 = to cry (the action). These three are often confused by learners.
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
눈물을 흘리다 = to shed tears. 눈물이 나다 = tears come out (involuntarily). 눈물을 참다 = to hold back tears. 눈물샘이 터지다 = the tear ducts burst (crying hard). K-dramas are famous for 눈물 scenes — emotionally powerful moments that make viewers cry.
What's a common mistake?
눈물 is just tears. 슬픔 = sadness (the emotion). 울다 = to cry (the action). These three are often confused by learners.
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