こぼれる

• Reading: こぼれる
• Romaji: koboreru
• Pronunciation: /ko.bo.ɾe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To overflow; to spill over; to leak out. The natural, uncontrolled spilling or overflowing of a liquid or substance.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb conjugated by dropping る. The intransitive counterpart of こぼす (to spill). Describes liquids overflowing or spilling on their own, not by someone's direct action. Often used poetically: 笑みがこぼれる (a smile breaks out), 涙がこぼれる (tears spill). Usually written in hiragana rather than the kanji 零れる.

Examples

1. コップからお水がこぼれてテーブルが濡れた。 Water spilled from the glass and got the table wet.
2. 嬉しいニュースを聞いて笑みがこぼれた。 A smile broke out across my face when I heard the happy news.
3. 袋が破れて中の米がこぼれてしまった。 The bag ripped and the rice inside spilled out.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, literature, emotions

Tone: gentle

Origin & History

Originally written as 零れる, the intransitive form related to こぼす. The kanji 零 suggests something scattering or falling away in small quantities.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal