Translation guide
The English word "laugh" covers a range of expressions from a quiet smile to loud, uncontrollable laughter. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 笑う (warau), but the appropriate word depends on the type of laugh, the situation, and the nuance you want to convey. This guide helps you choose the right expression.
To express amusement or joy with a sound or facial expression, in everyday situations.
The most common and versatile word for 'laugh' or 'smile'. It can refer to both the sound of laughter and the act of smiling. Use this as the default.
彼の冗談を聞いて、みんな笑った。
Everyone laughed at his joke.
彼女は嬉しそうに笑った。
She laughed happily.
The noun form of 笑う, meaning 'laughter' or 'a laugh'. Often used in compound words or to describe the act of laughing.
笑いが止まらなかった。
I couldn't stop laughing.
To laugh suddenly and loudly, often in an uncontrolled way.
Literally 'big laugh', meaning to laugh heartily or roar with laughter. Emphasizes the loudness and intensity.
その話を聞いて、みんな大笑いした。
Everyone burst out laughing at that story.
Literally 'explosive laugh', meaning to burst into laughter or laugh uproariously. Stronger than 大笑い, often used in casual contexts.
彼の失敗談に爆笑した。
I cracked up at his story of failure.
To burst out laughing involuntarily, often when trying to hold it in. Literally 'spurt out'.
To express amusement or friendliness with a facial expression, without audible laughter.
To smile gently or softly. Often implies a warm, kind, or slightly amused expression. More refined than 笑う for a silent smile.
赤ちゃんが私に微笑んだ。
The baby smiled at me.
To smile broadly or grin. An onomatopoeic verb describing a cheerful, open smile.
彼女はにっこりして手を振った。
She smiled and waved.
A literary expression meaning 'to wear a smile'. Used in writing or formal speech.
彼は口元に笑みを浮かべた。
A smile played on his lips.
To laugh in a quiet, suppressed, or silly way.
To giggle or chuckle quietly, often in a restrained or secretive manner. The adverb くすくす mimics the sound of suppressed laughter.
後ろの席で誰かがくすくす笑っていた。
Someone was giggling in the back seat.
To laugh inwardly or chuckle to oneself, often with a knowing or sly nuance. Literally 'contained laugh'.
彼は何か考えながら含み笑いをした。
He chuckled to himself as if thinking of something.
To laugh at someone in a derisive or contemptuous way.
To sneer or laugh scornfully at someone. Strongly negative.
彼は失敗した同僚を嘲笑った。
He sneered at his colleague who had failed.
To laugh derisively or mockingly, often with a sneer. Similar to 嘲笑う but can be slightly less intense.
To laugh through one's nose; to snort derisively. Literally 'laugh with the nose'.
彼は私の意見を鼻で笑った。
He snorted at my opinion.
To laugh nervously or to cover up discomfort.
To give a bitter or wry smile; to laugh awkwardly. Used when something is not really funny but you smile anyway.
彼は自分のミスに苦笑いした。
He gave a wry smile at his own mistake.
To give a forced or polite smile; to laugh just to be sociable. Often used in customer service or to maintain harmony.
彼女は上司のつまらない冗談に愛想笑いをした。
She gave a polite laugh at her boss's boring joke.
While 笑う is the most common translation, it can sound too direct or childish in some contexts. For a gentle smile, use 微笑む; for loud laughter, use 大笑いする or 爆笑する. Pay attention to the nuance.
彼女は微笑んだが、声を出して笑わなかった。
She smiled but didn't laugh out loud.
笑う can mean both 'laugh' and 'smile', but when you want to emphasize a silent, gentle smile, 微笑む is more precise. 笑う often implies audible laughter unless context specifies otherwise.
彼は笑った。→ 声を出して笑った可能性が高い。
He laughed. → Likely audible laughter.
彼は微笑んだ。→ 声は出さずに笑った。
He smiled. → Silent smile.
Japanese has many onomatopoeic words to describe different types of laughter. Common ones include くすくす (giggling), げらげら (loud, hearty laughter), にこにこ (smiling happily), and にやにや (grinning slyly). These are often used with 笑う or する.
子どもたちはげらげら笑っていた。
The children were laughing loudly.
It was so funny that I burst out laughing without thinking.
彼らは私の提案をせせら笑った。
They scoffed at my proposal.