Translation guide
The sound or act of laughing. In Japanese, the most common word is 笑い (warai), but the choice depends on context, formality, and whether you're describing the sound, the act, or a specific type of laugh.
The act or sound of laughing in a neutral or positive sense.
The most common and general noun for 'laughter' or 'laughing'. Can refer to the act, sound, or even a smile in some contexts.
部屋から笑い声が聞こえた。
I heard laughter from the room.
笑いが止まらなかった。
I couldn't stop laughing.
Specifically the sound of laughter. Use this when you want to emphasize the audible aspect.
子供たちの笑い声が公園に響いていた。
The children's laughter echoed in the park.
Used in compounds or formal writing, often meaning 'laugh' or 'smile'. Not used alone in conversation.
爆笑
roar of laughter
A burst of loud, unrestrained laughter.
A big laugh or loud laughter. Often used when someone laughs heartily.
彼の冗談にみんなが大笑いした。
Everyone burst into laughter at his joke.
Explosive laughter, a roar of laughter. Common in casual speech and online.
Quiet, suppressed, or silly laughter.
Giggling or chuckling quietly, often in a slightly secretive or amused way.
彼女はくすくす笑いながら秘密を教えてくれた。
She told me the secret while giggling.
A suppressed laugh, a chuckle under one's breath. Suggests knowing something others don't.
彼は含み笑いを浮かべた。
He gave a knowing chuckle.
Laughter that expresses contempt or ridicule.
Derisive laughter, scorn. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
彼の提案は嘲笑の的になった。
His proposal became the object of ridicule.
A sneer or snicker. More colloquial than 嘲笑, but still carries a negative tone.
Using laughter to express an emotion or as a social signal.
In Japanese, the verb 笑う is often used where English would use the noun 'laughter'. For example, 'to burst into laughter' is 笑い出す or 笑い転げる.
彼の顔を見て思わず笑ってしまった。
I couldn't help but laugh when I saw his face.
笑い転げるほど面白かった。
It was so funny I rolled with laughter.
To stifle or hold back laughter.
真面目な場面で笑いをこらえるのに必死だった。
I struggled to hold back laughter during the serious scene.
笑顔 (egao) means 'smile' or 'smiling face', not laughter. Use 笑い for audible laughing.
Japanese uses many onomatopoeic words for different types of laughter: げらげら (guffawing), くすくす (giggling), にこにこ (smiling happily), etc. These are often used adverbially with 笑う.
その動画を見て爆笑した。
I burst out laughing watching that video.
彼は失敗した私をせせら笑った。
He sneered at me for failing.