Learn a Chinese Character - 泪

1. Character Basics

Radical: 氵 (water radical)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lèi (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Tears; tear; weeping; to cry; teardrop; lacrimal; lachrymal

4. Common Words

• 眼泪 (yǎnlèi) - tears; teardrops
• 流泪 (liúlèi) - to shed tears; to weep
• 哭泣 (kūqì) - to cry; to weep
• 泪水 (lèishuǐ) - tears; tear water
• 泪汪汪 (lèiwāngwāng) - tearful; with tears in one's eyes
• 泪痕 (lèihén) - tear stains; traces of tears
• 泪如雨下 (lèirúyǔxià) - tears fall like rain; to cry bitterly
• 含泪 (hánlèi) - with tears; tearful

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "泪" is primarily used as a noun referring to tears, but it can also be used in verb phrases related to crying or weeping.

Grammar Patterns:

• 作为名词: 眼泪 (tears), 泪水 (tear water)
• 动宾结构: 流泪 (to shed tears), 掉泪 (to drop tears)
• 形容词+泪: 伤心泪 (sad tears), 幸福泪 (happy tears)
• 常见搭配: 泪如雨下 (tears fall like rain), 热泪盈眶 (eyes filled with warm tears)
• 量词搭配: 一滴泪 (a tear), 两行泪 (two streams of tears)

6. Cultural Background

The character "泪" has significant cultural symbolism in Chinese literature, art, and everyday expressions:

In Chinese poetry and literature, tears are often used to express deep emotions such as sorrow, longing, or joy. For example, the phrase "相思泪" (xiāngsīlèi) refers to tears of longing for a loved one.

The idiom "泪如泉涌" (lèirúquányǒng) describes tears flowing like a spring, used to depict intense sorrow or emotion. Another common idiom is "哭天抹泪" (kūtiānmǒlèi), which means to cry and wipe tears, describing someone who is very upset.

In traditional Chinese culture, public displays of emotion, including crying, were generally more accepted than in some Western cultures, especially in certain contexts like funerals or emotional storytelling.

The character's radical "氵" (water) reflects its association with liquid, which directly relates to its meaning of tears.

In Chinese opera, tear makeup is an important part of expressing emotions, with different colors and styles representing different types of sorrow or sadness.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "泪" (lèi) can be remembered by breaking it down into its components:

• The left part is "氵" (water radical), which relates to its meaning of liquid/tears
• The right part is "目" (eye), which directly connects to where tears come from

To remember the character, think of it as "water from the eye," which directly describes what tears are - liquid that comes from the eyes when we cry.

Associate the character with common words like "眼泪" (tears) and "流泪" (to shed tears) to reinforce its meaning and usage in different contexts.

Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help remember its structure, focusing on the water radical on the left and the eye component on the right.