I had never cried so much in one week or seen so many Singaporeans do so during the week of national mourning.

The Chinese character for tears is 泪 and the character for eyes or sight is 目. If you turn this character 90 degrees to the right/left, it resembles an eye, an example of how modern Chinese characters evolved from pictograms. The radical on the left of 泪, ie the three ticks, represents water or anything in liquid form. Combining the two (泪) to mean tears thus makes perfect sense.

I have read many articles and reflections about Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death. This one titled “Singapore Cries” is one of my favourites, with the many reasons it lists for the tears we (Singaporeans) shed over his passing. It’s a beautiful piece of writing. Enjoy it here.