Taxonomy of meanings for 淚:  

  • 淚 lèi (OC: ruds MC: lʷi) 力遂切 去 廣韻:【涕淚俗作㴃 】

    Additional information about 淚

    說文解字:

      Criteria
    • TEARS

      1. The current general word for tears is qì 泣.

      2. Lèi 淚 is a general word for tears, but probably not as common as qì 泣.

      3. Tì 涕 refers to tears (possibly mixed with snivel from the nose, the latter meaning becoming prominent at later stages of the language).

      4. Yí 洟 and sì 泗 are rare words referring to tears in early times, and to snivel or mucus from the nose in later times.