Usage note
眼泪是眼睛流出的液体，通常在伤心或开心时出现。
Yǎnlèi shì yǎnjīng liú chū de yètǐ, tōngcháng zài shāngxīn huò kāixīn shí chūxiàn.
Tears are liquid from the eyes, usually appearing when sad or happy.
Context note
在家庭或学校中，小朋友可能会因为摔倒或感动而流眼泪。
Zài jiātíng huò xuéxiào zhōng, xiǎopéngyǒu kěnéng huì yīnwèi shuāidǎo huò gǎndòng ér liú yǎnlèi.
At home or school, children may shed tears because of falling or being moved.
5 examples
她开心得流下了眼泪。
tā kāi xīn dé liú xià le yǎn lèi。
She shed tears of joy.
他忍住眼泪，没有哭。
tā rěn zhù yǎn lèi， méi yǒu kū。
He held back his tears and didn't cry.
眼泪从她的脸颊滑落。
yǎn lèi cóng tā de liǎn jiá huá luò。
Tears slid down her cheek.
看到妈妈，他的眼泪就掉下来了。
kàn dào mā ma， tā de yǎn lèi jiù diào xià lái le。
When he saw his mom, his tears fell.
她擦干了眼泪，继续微笑。
tā cā gān le yǎn lèi， jì xù wēi xiào。
She wiped away her tears and continued smiling.
5 mini stories
小明摔倒了，疼得流出了眼泪。妈妈轻轻抱住了他。
xiǎo míng shuāi dǎo le， téng dé liú chū le yǎn lèi。 mā ma qīng qīng bào zhù le tā。
Xiao Ming fell and shed tears from pain. Mom gently hugged him.
小红收到了生日礼物，高兴得眼泪在眼眶里打转。她说了声谢谢。
xiǎo hóng shōu dào le shēng rì lǐ wù， gāo xìng dé yǎn lèi zài yǎn kuàng lǐ dǎ zhuǎn。 tā shuō le shēng xiè xiè。
Xiao Hong received a birthday gift, and happy tears swirled in her eyes. She said thank you.
小刚看了一部感人的电影，眼泪止不住地流。他用手擦了擦。
xiǎo gāng kàn le yí bù gǎn rén de diàn yǐng， yǎn lèi zhǐ bú zhù dì liú。 tā yòng shǒu cā le cā。
Xiao Gang watched a touching movie, and tears flowed uncontrollably. He wiped them with his hand.
小丽考试得了满分，激动得眼泪都出来了。她跳了起来。
xiǎo lì kǎo shì dé le mǎn fēn， jī dòng dé yǎn lèi dōu chū lái le。 tā tiào le qǐ lái。
Xiao Li got full marks on the exam, and tears came out from excitement. She jumped up.
小华和朋友吵架后，偷偷流了眼泪。后来他们和好了。
xiǎo huá hé péng yǒu chǎo jià hòu， tōu tōu liú le yǎn lèi。 hòu lái tā men hé hǎo le。
After Xiao Hua argued with a friend, he secretly shed tears. Later they made up.
Mini dialogue
感动的眼泪
A
你为什么流眼泪？
Nǐ wèi shén me liú yǎn lèi?
Why are you crying?
B
这个故事太感人了，我忍不住流眼泪。
Zhè gè gù shì tài gǎn rén le, wǒ rěn bù zhù liú yǎn lèi.
This story is so touching, I can't help crying.
擦眼泪
A
别哭了，擦擦眼泪吧。
Bié kū le, cā cā yǎn lèi ba.
Don't cry, wipe your tears.
B
好的，我只是有点难过。
Hǎo de, wǒ zhǐ shì yǒu diǎn nán guò.
Okay, I'm just a little sad.
Related words and contrasts
related
哭泣
kū qì
cry, weep
哭泣 is the act of crying, which produces 眼泪.
related
伤心
shāng xīn
sad
伤心 means sad, a feeling that can cause 眼泪.
contrast
笑容
xiào róng
smile
笑容 is a smile, the opposite expression to tears.