热泪盈眶

rè lèi yíng kuàng

eyes brimming with tears (of emotion)

Character by character

热rè
hot

泪lèi
tears

盈yíng
fill

眶kuàng
eye sockets

老人读着孙子从国外寄来的信，读着读着就热泪盈眶了。

Reading the letter his grandson had sent from abroad, the old man found his eyes filling with tears.

Tone: neutral.

Usually tears of being moved, pride or gratitude rather than grief. 盈 is to fill, 眶 the eye socket. Stronger: 泪流满面, tears streaming down the face.

Learn this in Lesson 115 · HSK 7–9: 郑钦文巴黎夺金 (Sport: gold in Paris)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.