Meaning and Usage
The verb 泣く (なく) means "to cry" and is used to describe the act of shedding tears, usually due to emotions like sadness, pain, or sometimes happiness. It is a common verb in everyday conversation and appears frequently in stories and personal experiences.
Common Contexts
泣く is often used when talking about babies or children crying, emotional reactions to movies or events, and physical pain causing tears. It can express both involuntary and voluntary crying.
Collocations and Patterns
- 泣く (verb alone): to cry
- 泣いてしまう: to end up crying (often unexpectedly or uncontrollably)
- 泣き声 (なきごえ): crying voice or sound
- 泣き止む (なきやむ): to stop crying
Register and Nuance
泣く is neutral in formality and can be used in casual and polite speech. It is not formal or honorific. When describing someone crying, it often conveys empathy or concern.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 泣く with 感動する (to be moved) or 泣き出す (to burst into tears). 泣く is the general verb for crying, while 泣き出す emphasizes the start of crying. Remember 泣く focuses on the act itself.