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【No. 1413】Namida wo Nomu (涙を呑む - Swallowing Tears)

Oct 31, 2018 22:40
Namida wo Nomu

A few days ago, I took an action called namida wo nomu (涙を呑む) in Japanese.

Namida wo nomu is an idiom that means to hold back one's tears when the one is about to cry due to regret, chagrin, or sorrow.

Namida (涙) means "tear," and nomu (呑む) means "to drink" or "to swallow," so the literal meaning of this idiom is "to drink/swallow tears."

That is to say, this idiom implies that you hold back your tears by swallowing them.

I heard that the literal translation, "to swallow tears" and "to swallow/back down tears" can be used in the same meaning to this.
涙を呑む

私は先日、涙を呑みました。

「涙を呑む」とは、悔しさや無念さ、悲しさで泣きたいほどの気持ちのときに、涙を流さずにじっと我慢することを意味する慣用句です。

「涙」は "tear," 「呑む」は "to drink" や "to swallow" を意味するので、「涙を呑む」の文字通りの意味は "to swallow tears" となります。

出そうになった涙を体の内側に呑み込むことで、涙を堪えているというわけです。

英語でも同様に、"to swallow tears" や "to swallow back/down tears" のように言うようです。

Corrections (2)

No. 1　Eeiko
  • A few days ago, I took an action called 'namida wo nomu' (涙を呑む) in Japanese.
  • A few days ago I, "namida wo nomu" ed.

    This is how I would say it. It's kind of silly.

  • 'Namida wo nomu' is an idiom that means to hold back one's tears when the one is about to cry due to regret, chagrin, or sorrow.
  • 'Namida wo nomu' is an idiom that means to hold back one's tears when one is about to cry due to regret, chagrin, or sorrow.
  • That is to say, this idiom implies that you hold back your tears by swallowing them.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • I heard that the literal translation, "to swallow tears" and "to swallow/back down tears" can be used in the same meaning to this.
  • I heard that the literal translation, "to swallow tears" and "to swallow back/hold back tears" can be used as is.
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction!
> A few days ago I, "namida wo nomu" ed.
I learned something new!
No. 2　Andrew
  • Namida wo Nomu (涙を呑む - Swallowing Tears)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Namida wo Nomu
  • Namida wo Nomu

    could say Namida wo Nomu - To swallow one's tears

  • A few days ago, I took an action called 'namida wo nomu' (涙を呑む) in Japanese.
  • A few days ago, I did something that we call 'namida wo nomu' (涙を呑む) in Japanese.

    "I took an action .... " this is too formal for a journal entry, more likely to be said by a politician, for example.

  • 'Namida wo nomu' is an idiom that means to hold back one's tears when the one is about to cry due to regret, chagrin, or sorrow.
  • 'Namida wo nomu' is an idiom that means to hold back one's tears when the one is about to cry due to regret, chagrin or sorrow.

    just the comma after chagrin

  • 'Namida' (涙) means "tear," and 'nomu' (呑む) means "to drink" or "to swallow," so the literal meaning of this idiom is "to drink/swallow tears."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • That is to say, this idiom implies that you hold back your tears by swallowing them.
  • >That is to say, this idiom implies that you hold back your tears by swallowing them.>>This is OK, but ...>In other words, you hold back your tears by swallowing them.>>sounds more natural
  • I heard that the literal translation, "to swallow tears" and "to swallow/back down tears" can be used in the same meaning to this.
  • >you don't really need this sentence

    I have heard ... I've heard... (present perfect is better in such a sentence)

Well done! I wish my Japanese was as good as your English.

Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
I'm glad to hear you say that. :)

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