What is the difference between "なく" and "泣く"?

"なく" means "to cry (human), to sing/bark/meow (animal)" (N5), whereas "泣く" represents "to cry, to weep" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "なく (naku)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

なく (naku)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

なく (naku)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "なく (naku)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

なく (Level: N5): Translates to "to cry (human), to sing/bark/meow (animal)" and is used when Can refer to humans crying.
泣く (Level: N4): Maps to "to cry, to weep" and carries the nuance of Describes the act of shedding tears due to sadness, pain, joy, or other strong emotions..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "なく"

悲しくて子供が泣いています。

The child is crying because they are sad.

Bilingual Context for "泣く"

悲しい映画を見て、彼女は泣きました。

She cried after watching a sad movie.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "悲しくて子供が泣いています。" (Meaning: "The child is crying because they are sad.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "なく" is used for "to cry (human), to sing/bark/meow (animal)" in the context: "The child is crying because they are sad.".