Understanding '눈물' (Tear)
눈물 literally means 'tear' and is used to describe the drops of liquid that come from the eyes, usually due to emotions like sadness, happiness, or irritation.
Common Contexts
눈물 is often associated with emotional expressions such as crying from sadness or joy. It can also refer to tears caused by physical reasons like cutting onions or eye irritation.
Collocations and Patterns
- 눈물을 흘리다: to shed tears, commonly used when someone cries.
- 눈물을 참다: to hold back tears, showing effort to not cry.
- 눈물이 나다: tears come out, used when tears appear naturally.
Usage Notes
눈물 is a noun and is used in both formal and informal contexts. When talking about crying, it often appears with verbs like 흘리다 (to shed) or 참다 (to hold back).
A common learner mistake is confusing 눈물 with 울다 (to cry). 눈물 refers specifically to the tears themselves, while 울다 is the action of crying.
Practical Tip
When expressing emotions in Korean, using 눈물 with verbs like 흘리다 or 참다 helps convey the intensity of feelings more vividly.