こぼれます（こぼれます、koboremasu）
- to spill

The Japanese verb こぼれます こぼれます means "to spill," "to overflow," or "to be shed" (tears, etc.). It describes the action of something unintentionally leaving its container or falling out. It implies that the action is happening passively; something is spilling without a direct action. It can also describe things like tears welling up and spilling.

⚫︎コップから水がこぼれました。 Translation: The water spilled from the glass. ⚫︎涙がこぼれそうになりました。 Translation: I almost spilled tears. ⚫︎袋からお米がこぼれてしまいました。 Translation: The rice spilled out of the bag.

⚫︎You would use こぼれます こぼれます when something liquid or small solid particles (like rice, sand, or beads) exits its container unintentionally. ⚫︎It can also be used figuratively for things like tears or emotions "spilling" or being expressed. ⚫︎It is often used when something happens accidentally.

⚫︎The verb こぼれます こぼれます is written in hiragana. ⚫︎The kanji form is 零れます. However, it's less common. ⚫︎The okurigana (suffix hiragana) is usually れます, changing depending on the tense and form of the verb. ⚫︎The verb stem is こぼれ. ⚫︎Conjugations include こぼれる (dictionary form), こぼれない (negative form), こぼれた (past tense), etc.

⚫︎漏れる (moreru): to leak, to spill ⚫︎あふれる (afureru): to overflow ⚫︎流れる (nagareru): to flow, to run (e.g., tears) ⚫︎落ちる (ochiru): to fall (can sometimes be used depending on context, especially when something drops out).

There is no direct antonym, as it represents a passive action. It's more about preventing the action. Words that could be considered related to its opposite, meaning containing something, include: ⚫︎入れる (ireru): to put in, to insert ⚫︎しまう (shimau): to put away, to store

コーヒーがテーブルにこぼれて、服を汚してしまいました。 ・Translation: The coffee spilled on the table and stained my clothes. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the accidental spilling of coffee and the resulting consequence.

嬉しくて、涙がこぼれそうになった。 ・Translation: I almost spilled tears because I was happy. ・Explanation: This sentence uses こぼれ to express the near-spilling of tears due to happiness.

The etymology is not precisely clear, but it appears to be derived from the verb stem こぼれ which indicates that something is falling or coming out.