How to say "cry" in Japanese

• 泣くなくJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe basic verb for a person crying, shedding tears or weeping out of sadness. Use this when someone actually cries; babies can also 泣く.
  ビルは何時間なんじかんも泣なき続つづけた。↗

  Bill kept on crying for hours.
• 叫ぶさけぶJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'cry (out)' in the sense of shouting, screaming or shrieking loudly, usually from emotion, pain or alarm. If 'cry' means a loud vocal outburst rather than tears, this is the word.
• 鳴き声なきごえCommon
  nounThe cry, call or song of an animal as a noun, such as a bird's chirping or a dog's bark. Use it to refer to the sound itself rather than the act.
  鶏にわとりの鳴き声なきごえは夜明よあけの前触まえぶれです。↗

  The crowing of a cock is the harbinger of dawn.
• 泣き声なきごえCommon
  nounThe sound of crying as a noun, for example a baby's cry, a sob or a whine. It denotes the crying voice itself, not the act of crying.
  病気びょうきの子こどもの痛いたましい泣き声なきごえを聞きくのは我々われわれには耐たえられなかった。↗

  We could not bear to listen to the sick child's pathetic cries.
• 鳴くなくJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbFor 'cry' in the animal sense: the verb for an animal making sound, calling or whining. Birds, dogs and cats 鳴く; it is not the usual verb for a person crying.
  羊ひつじは何なんて鳴なくの？↗

  What sound does a sheep make?

Use 「泣く」 or 「叫ぶ」 for people crying or shouting, 「鳴く」 for animal cries, 「鳴き声」 for the cry itself of an animal, and 「泣き声」 for a baby's or person's crying sound.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 泣くなくto cry
• 叫ぶさけぶto shout
• 鳴き声なきごえcry (of an animal)
• 泣き声なきごえcry (e.g. of a baby)
• 鳴くなくto make sound (of an animal)
• 叫びさけびshout
• わめくto shout
• 一声いっせいvoice
• 叫び声さけびごえshout
• おめくto shout
• クライcry
• 涙するなみだするto cry
• 哭くなくto cry (noisily)
• 雄叫びおたけびroar
• 人声ひとごえhuman voice
• 叫声きょうせいyell
• 泣き頻るなきしきるto wail
• 涙が出るなみだがでるto shed tears
• 唱えるとなえるto cry
• 吠えるほえるto yell
• 湧くわくto appear (esp. suddenly) (sweat, tears, etc.)
• こんこんbark (of a fox)