How to say "weep" in Japanese

• 泣くなくJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe general, common verb for shedding tears; it covers 'cry', 'weep' and 'sob' and is the default choice when a person is crying, whatever the manner or intensity.
  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.
• 枝垂れるしだれる
  ichidan verb, intransitive verb'Weep' here is the botanical sense only: branches that droop or hang down, as in a weeping willow. It is never used of a person crying.
• しくしく泣くしくしくなく
  expression, godan verbCovers 'weep' as quiet, soft crying: gentle, suppressed sobbing rather than loud wailing. Suits someone weeping quietly to themselves.
  一人ひとりの小ちいさな女の子おんなのこがしくしく泣ないているのをみつけた。↗

  I found that there was a little girl sobbing.
• 袂を絞るたもとをしぼる
  expression, godan verbA less common idiom for shedding many tears: the image is wringing dry a sleeve soaked with weeping. Use it when someone weeps copiously, not for a few quiet tears.

Use 「泣く」 as the all-purpose verb for a person crying or weeping; 「しくしく泣く」 for quiet, soft weeping; 「袂を絞る」 for shedding many tears; 「枝垂れる」 only for plants whose branches 'weep', i.e. droop.

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

• 泣くなくto cry
• 枝垂れるしだれるto droop
• しくしく泣くしくしくなくto cry softly
• 袂を絞るたもとをしぼるto shed many tears