The "Tear"

[Tiako]

Here's something that's beem bugging me for a while. You know the "tear" that sometimes appears on a character's face? What does it mean? Sometimes it seems like fear, sometimes, like sweat, sometimes like a tear. Anyone know?

An example (On the last and penultimate panel)

http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010521

[Seran]

It's been very often displayed in anime and manga. However, I myself am not sure as to what it expresses.

The main idea of what it does express, however, would often be embarrassment or annoyance. Basically it expresses a form of stress, usually between embarrassment and anxiety.

[Vidihawk]

It's referred to as a sweatdrop. Basically, the primary emotion behind it is "errmmm" or "uh oh..."

It's essentially (by my humble opinion) for those moments of realizing you're in more of a situation than you thought. Often, in anime, the same thing will be expressed by an open-mouthed laugh while scratching the back of one's head with their elbow crooked over their crown. Although, that particular one is for when you're trying to play innocent.

[Particleman]

It's not a tear,it's a sweatdrop, and it's used sometimes in anime and manga. It doesn't really mean anything specific, but it typically indicates various forms of distress.

[Flarecobra]

Wikipedia tells all (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweatdrop)

[Tiako]

So...pretty much it means what the situation dictates.

[netrider6]

Wikipedia tells all (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweatdrop)
Well, I now know what those nosebleeds meant....

[Invisible Queen]

-_-U <-how could you not see what this face is telling you? 6_9

[warpdragon]

More interestingly, what's with the white pixel under White Mage's eye and under class changed Fighter's as well?

[Seran]

That's already been explained in a recent comic-discussion topic. That is to represent youth or a shine on the cheeks. That is seen on white mages, knights, fighters in Final Fantasy IIIj, and a lot of other classes I won't bother to name due to my limited memory of them.