Translation guide
A person or thing that is ridiculed or made fun of by others.
To describe someone who is the target of ridicule or mockery.
The most common and natural way to say 'laughingstock' when referring to a person. It literally means 'laughing person/thing' and is used in everyday conversation.
彼はクラスの笑い者になった。
He became the laughingstock of the class.
そんなことをしたら笑い者になるよ。
If you do that, you'll become a laughingstock.
Literally 'the seed of laughter', this phrase emphasizes being the source or cause of ridicule. Slightly more literary than 笑い者.
彼の失敗は町中の物笑いの種になった。
His failure became the laughingstock of the whole town.
Similar to 物笑いの種, meaning 'source of laughter'. Can be used for both people and situations.
彼の変な髪型が笑いの種になった。
His weird hairstyle became a laughingstock.
A more formal and literary expression meaning 'target of ridicule'. Used in writing or formal speech.
彼の提案は嘲笑の的となった。
His proposal became a laughingstock.
To describe an object, idea, or event that is mocked.
Works for both people and things. It's the most versatile option for non-person subjects.
その古い車は近所の笑いの種だ。
That old car is the laughingstock of the neighborhood.
Do not translate 'laughingstock' literally as 笑う株 (warau kabu) or similar. The natural Japanese expressions are idiomatic phrases like 笑い者 or 笑いの種.
笑い者 is almost exclusively used for people, while 笑いの種 can be used for both people and things. 笑い者 is more common in spoken Japanese.
彼は笑い者だ。
He is a laughingstock.
その話は笑いの種だ。
That story is a laughingstock.
Also used for things, with a slightly stronger nuance of being the object of widespread ridicule.
その失敗作は会社の物笑いの種になった。
That failed product became the laughingstock of the company.