‘含泪’ literally means 'holding back tears' or 'with tears (unshed)'. The character 含 (hán) means 'to hold in one’s mouth' or 'to contain', and 泪 (lèi) means 'tears'. Together, they form an evocative adverbial phrase describing a state of deep emotion—usually sorrow, grief, gratitude, or bittersweet farewell—where tears well up but are not yet shed. It conveys restraint, dignity, or quiet suffering, often implying emotional intensity that is suppressed or unexpressed.

This phrase is commonly used in literary, poetic, or formal contexts—such as speeches, obituaries, news reports, or heartfelt letters—and appears before verbs (e.g., 含泪告别, 含泪微笑). It rarely occurs in casual daily speech, where simpler expressions like ‘哭了’ (cried) or ‘眼眶红了’ (eyes reddened) are preferred. Its tone is solemn and poignant, carrying cultural resonance with ideals of emotional composure under hardship.