‘泪珠’ literally means 'tear-pearl'—a poetic and vivid way to refer to a single teardrop. The character 泪 (lèi) means 'tear' (the fluid shed from the eyes), while 珠 (zhū) means 'pearl' or 'bead', evoking the round, glistening, delicate appearance of a tear as it forms and falls. This compound emphasizes visual imagery and emotional weight, often used in literary, descriptive, or emotionally charged contexts rather than casual speech.

It appears frequently in writing—poetry, novels, song lyrics—and sometimes in spoken language when speakers wish to heighten expressiveness or convey tenderness, sorrow, or vulnerability. Unlike the neutral term 泪水 (lèi shuǐ, 'tears'), 泪珠 suggests singularity, fragility, and beauty in sadness. It’s rarely used in plural form; context usually implies one or several small drops, not a flood of tears.