うるっとくる

• Reading: うるっとくる
• Romaji: urutto kuru
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.ɾɯt.to.kɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To tear up, to get misty-eyed — that moment when your eyes well up with emotion.

うるっとくる combines the onomatopoeia うるうる/うるっと (ururu/urutto, describing eyes glistening with tears) and くる (kuru, 'to come,' meaning the feeling hits you). It captures the specific moment just before crying — eyes welling up but tears not yet falling. It is softer and more endearing than 泣く (naku, to cry), conveying a gentle, relatable emotionality. Very common when discussing movies, music, heartwarming stories, and touching moments.

Examples

1. あの映画のラストシーンでうるっときちゃった。 I teared up at the last scene of that movie.
2. おばあちゃんからの手紙読んで、うるっとくるものがあった。 Reading the letter from my grandma, I felt something welling up inside me.
3. 卒業式でみんなの顔見たら、うるっときた。 When I saw everyone's faces at graduation, I got misty-eyed.

Usage Guide

Context: daily conversation, movies, social media

Tone: sentimental, gentle

Do Say

• この曲聴くといつもうるっとくる。 (I always tear up when I hear this song.)
• 子どもの成長を見てうるっときた。 (I got misty-eyed watching my child grow.)

Don't Say

• ビジネスプレゼンで「うるっときました」はカジュアルすぎる (Saying 'urutto kimashita' in a business presentation is too casual — use 感動しました instead)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing うるっとくる with 泣く — うるっとくる is specifically the moment eyes well up, not full crying

Origin & History

From the mimetic word うるうる/うるっと (eyes glistening with moisture) + くる (to come, in the sense of an emotion hitting you). Natural onomatopoeic expression in everyday Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Long-standing natural expression, widespread in modern media

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal casual

Regional notes: Used across Japan. Particularly common in movie reviews, social media reactions, and TV show commentary. Japanese culture values subtle emotional expression, and うるっとくる captures that perfectly.