# 涙 — tears

涙 means “tears”. It is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 10 strokes. On'yomi: ルイ (rui). Kun'yomi: なみだ (namida). You'll see it in words such as 涙 (namida, “tear; tears”).

- Meaning: tears
- On'yomi: ルイ (rui)
- Kun'yomi: なみだ (namida)
- Strokes: 10
- Level: JLPT N3 · set Feelings 2

## How to remember 涙

Water (氵) that goes back (戻) down your face: tears.

Parts: 氵 water · 戻 go back

## Words with 涙

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 涙 | なみだ (namida) | tear; tears |
| 涙ぐむ | なみだぐむ (namidagumu) | to have tears in one's eyes; to be moved to tears |

## Don't confuse it with

[戻](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/go-back/) · [所](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/place/) · [雇](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/employ/) · [肩](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/shoulder/)

## More in the “Feelings 2” set

[嫌](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/dislike/) · [恋](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/romantic-love/) · [怖](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/frightening/) · [泣](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/cry/) · [涙](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/tears/) · [忙](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/busy/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/tears/. Last updated 2026-11-01.