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

"泣く" means "to cry, to weep" (N4), whereas "鳴く" represents "to sing (birds); to cry (animals); to moo, bark, meow, etc." (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)

N4 / 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.

泣く (Level: N4): Translates to "to cry, to weep" and is used when Describes the act of shedding tears due to sadness, pain, joy, or other strong emotions..
鳴く (Level: N4): Maps to "to sing (birds); to cry (animals); to moo, bark, meow, etc." and carries the nuance of Specifically refers to the sound made by animals.

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

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.

Bilingual Context for "鳴く"

庭で鳥が美しく鳴いています。

A bird is singing beautifully in the garden.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "悲しい映画を見て、彼女は泣きました。" (Meaning: "She cried after watching a sad movie.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "泣く" is used for "to cry, to weep" in the context: "She cried after watching a sad movie.".