Korean Dictionary
How to say "Tear" in Korean
“Tear” in Korean is 눈물 (pronounced "nunmul").
눈물
nunmul
Usage & Context
The fluid secreted from the eyes. Used in medical and everyday contexts. Important for discussing emotions and eye health.
Example Sentence
눈물이 나왔어요.
Tears came out.
How to use 눈물 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Tear” is 눈물, romanized as nunmul.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 눈물.
Pronunciation Guide
'Nunmul' is pronounced like 'noon-mool'. The 'n' is like in 'no', the first 'u' is like the 'oo' in 'moon'. The 'm' is like in 'mom', and the second 'u' is also like the 'oo' in 'moon', followed by a soft 'l' sound.
More Example Sentences
Reacting emotionally to a film.
슬픈 영화를 보고 눈물이 났어요.
I shed tears after watching a sad movie.
Overwhelmed with joy or emotion.
너무 기뻐서 눈물이 핑 돌았어요.
I was so happy, tears welled up in my eyes.
Describing a parent's emotional response to their child.
아이의 눈물에는 항상 엄마가 약해져요.
A mother always weakens at her child's tears.
Cultural Context
Crying is generally seen as a natural expression of emotion in Korea, and it's not uncommon to see people cry openly in public, especially during emotional events or while watching K-dramas. The phrase '눈물 콧물 다 빼다' (to shed both tears and snot) is a vivid expression for crying intensely and uncontrollably, often used humorously or to emphasize deep sadness.
Editorial note
We review entries like 눈물 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
눈물이 나다
to shed tears (literally 'tears come out')
눈물을 흘리다
to shed tears
눈물을 닦다
to wipe tears
Related Expressions
울다
ulda
to cry
눈물샘
nunmulssem
tear duct
눈물겹다
nunmulgyeopda
tearful, moving (literally 'tear-heavy')
눈물바다
nunmulbada
a sea of tears (e.g., a place filled with crying people)
More Body Parts Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Tear and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
