雀の涙

Japanese

Kanji in this term
雀	涙
すずめ Jinmeiyō	なみだ Grade: S
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
雀の淚 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Compound of 雀 (suzume, “sparrow”) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 涙 (namida, “tears”). Literally meaning "(as little as) tears of a sparrow".

Idiom

雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ) • (suzume no namida) 

1. (figurative) a tiny amount