Difference between こぼれる and あふれる


What is the difference between the two words `こぼれる` and `あふれる`?

I think for `こぼれる`, the focus is on **improper or bad containment** leading to
overflow/spillage.  
And for `あふれる` the focus is on the **abundance** of the object being
contained, therefore leading to overflow/spillage.

As an aside, how frequently is the kanji `溢` used for `あふれる` and `こぼれる`?  
I ask this because Google IME suggests `溢れる` for both `あふれる` and `こぼれる`.  
Is `あふれる` usually in kana and `こぼれる` usually `零れる`?




Yes, your analysis is correct. As a Christian, `溢れる` is used often in church,
the Bible, etc. to describe such as God's overflowing love (`神様の溢れ出る愛`),
overflowing joy, etc. And I usually see it written using the kanji `溢`.

I have never seen `こぼれる` written with `溢`. The kanji `零` (れい) also means
"zero", so it's not hard to see that spilling something might result in an
amount of zero leftover. So this has a more negative connotation than `溢れる`.




Yes, your analysis is correct. As a Christian, `溢れる` is used often in church,
the Bible, etc. to describe such as God's overflowing love (`神様の溢れ出る愛`),
overflowing joy, etc. And I usually see it written using the kanji `溢`.

I have never seen `こぼれる` written with `溢`. The kanji `零` (れい) also means
"zero", so it's not hard to see that spilling something might result in an
amount of zero leftover. So this has a more negative connotation than `溢れる`.

