◆ タマネギを切るときに涙が出るのは、もちろん日本人ばかりではない。アメリカ人（かどうかはよくわからないが）でも涙を流す。

◇ Grandma always held a silver spoon in her mouth while peeling onions. I tried it and it worked!
おばあちゃんはいつも、タマネギの皮をむくとき、銀のスプーンを口にくわえてた。私もやってみたけど、効いたよ。
www.wikihow.com/Chop-Onions-without-Tears

◇ Y: My grandmother used to tell me that chewing a piece of bread helps prevent tears.
D: Did it work?
Y: No.
「私の祖母はよく、パンをかじってれば涙が出ないわよ、と言っていたわ」「効いたのかい？」「いいえ」
amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/cryfreeonion.html

◆ 以下、英語の勉強。sulfur compounds 硫黄化合物。enzyme 酵素。

◇ 〔Cyberend - Why onions make us cry〕 Some people suggest putting the onion in the fridge or the freezer for a few minutes because the cold decreases the speed of the chemical reaction. Another tip is to slice the area around the root of the onion last. Why? Because there are more sulfur compounds in the onion root.
cyberend.com/science/821108_whyonionsmakeuscry.htm

◇ 〔FunQA.com - Why does onion make you cry?〕 〕 If you want to prevent crying when you cut onions, there are a few things you can do. One is to cut the onion under a stream of cold water. The sulfur compounds dissolve in water so they will be rinsed down the sink and not be able to get into you eyes. Another way to prevent crying is to put the onion in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before you cut it. Cold temperatures slow down the reaction between the enzyme and the sulfur compounds so fewer of the burning molecules can reach your eyes.
www.funqa.com/chemistry/2051-2-chemistry-2.html

◇ 〔The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel〕 There are ways to keep eyes dry and pain-free when chopping onions. Chilling the onion in the fridge makes its chemicals less active. Peeling or chopping an onion under running water washes stinging chemicals right down the drain.
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20000911/ai_n10637853

◆ もっと英語の勉強がしたい人は、以下のサイトも参考に。

《wikiHow : How to Slice an Onion Without Crying》
《ArticleWorld : How to slice and chop onions without ‘crying’》
《COOK IT QUICK! : Cooking with Onions without Crying》

◆ また、涙の出ないタマネギ（no-tears onion）の記事も興味深い。

《BBC NEWS : No tears over new onion》

◆ 英語圏ではない地域のタマネギの涙のハナシも調べたくなるけれど、ちょっと余裕がない。