What Does Crying Sound Like in Japanese? — From Quiet Tears to Overflowing Emotion

Crying isn’t always loud.

Sometimes tears quietly gather in your eyes.
Sometimes they fall softly, one by one.
And sometimes, emotion suddenly overflows.

In Japanese, different kinds of crying are expressed through vivid sound words — each capturing a unique emotional state and intensity.

Each sound carries a slightly different feeling — let’s explore them by intensity.

How Crying Sounds in Japanese

Level 1: Ururu (うるうる)

Eyes filled with tears, but not yet falling.
A delicate, emotional moment just before crying.

Level 2: Shiku Shiku (しくしく)

Quiet, soft sobbing.
A gentle, continuous kind of crying.

Level 2: Meso Meso (めそめそ)

Weak, lingering crying.
More drawn-out and emotional than shiku shiku.

Level 3: Poro Poro (ぽろぽろ)

Tears falling one by one.
A natural, steady flow of tears.

Level 4: Boro Boro (ぼろぼろ)

Tears falling heavily and continuously.
A stronger, more visible emotional release.

Level 5: Buwa (ぶわっ)

Tears bursting out all at once.
A sudden overflow of emotion.

Try Using It!

Next time you feel like crying —
pause for a moment and ask:

👉 What kind of tears are these?

Are they quiet and gentle?
Slow and steady?
Or suddenly overflowing?

Try expressing it with a Japanese sound word —
you may discover a more precise way to describe your emotions.