泪花 (lèi huā) — tears (in one's eyes, especially when glistenin… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary image for tears just gathering or glistening in the eyes, not falling. Compared with plain 眼泪, 泪花 evokes a vivid, momentary picture — often paired with 眼里 and verbs like 含, 闪, 涌出.

noun

tears (in one's eyes, especially when glistening)

Examples

泪花。
Tā yǎn lǐ hán zhe jīng yíng de lèi huā.
Her eyes held glistening tears.
，泪花。
Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā yǎn lǐ yǒng chū le lèi huā.
Hearing this news, tears welled up in his eyes.
泪花。
Gǎn dòng dé tā yǎn lǐ shǎn shuò zhe lèi huā.
He was so moved that tears sparkled in his eyes.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

泪 names tears, and 花 suggests a flower-like glint in the eyes.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 淚; 泪 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

戾

戾lì淚lèi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 淚 uses 水 (water) and 戾 for sound; this describes 淚, not 泪.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

艹化花

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

化

Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

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