淚滴 / 泪滴
lèidī
The English phrase "teardrop" can be translated into Mandarin as 淚滴 / 泪滴 (lèidī). If unsure, use 淚滴 / 泪滴. Wiktionary also lists 淚水 / 泪水 (lèishuǐ) and 眼淚 / 眼泪 (yǎnlèi).
Meaning: single tear (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 淚滴 / 泪滴 | lèidī |
| 淚水 / 泪水 | lèishuǐ |
| 眼淚 / 眼泪 | yǎnlèi |
The term refers to a single tear.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 淚滴 / 泪滴 is a compound of 淚 (tear) and 滴 (drop).
Which one should you use?
While 淚滴 / 泪滴 refers specifically to a single drop, 淚水 / 泪水 (literally "tear water") is a more general term for the liquid of tears or the flow of tears. 眼淚 / 眼泪 (literally "eye tears") is the most common, everyday way to say 'tears' in Mandarin, whereas 淚滴 / 泪滴 is more poetic or descriptive of the physical shape of a single drop.
How do you pronounce it?
lèidī
Did you know?
- If you are describing someone crying intensely, you might hear the phrase 涕淚 / 涕淚 (snot and tears), which is a more visceral, less poetic way to describe the messy reality of weeping than 'teardrop'.
- In many Chinese poetic contexts, the word 淚 / 淚 (tear) is often paired with the word 珠 / 珠 (pearl) to create the phrase 淚珠 / 淚珠, meaning 'tear pearl'. This metaphor treats a single teardrop as a precious, shimmering gemstone.
- In classical Chinese literature, the term 淚 / 淚 was sometimes used to describe 'dew' in a highly stylized way, linking the moisture of the eyes to the moisture of the morning heavens.
Examples in context
- 她的眼泪珠落在白纸上。Her teardrop fell onto the white paper.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “teardrop” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
