Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'loud laughter' depends on the nuance: hearty, unrestrained laughter, a sudden burst, or roaring with others. The most common word is 大笑い (oowarai), but there are also onomatopoeic expressions and verbs for specific situations.
To describe a big, loud laugh, often in a positive or amused context.
The most common and neutral word for 'loud laughter' or 'big laugh'. Can be used as a noun or a suru-verb (大笑いする).
彼の冗談にみんな大笑いした。
Everyone burst into loud laughter at his joke.
大笑いしてストレスを発散した。
I let out stress by having a good loud laugh.
Literally 'explosive laughter', meaning uproarious, loud laughter. Often used when a group laughs very hard. Can be a noun or suru-verb.
会場は爆笑に包まれた。
The venue was filled with loud laughter.
彼の話に爆笑した。
I roared with laughter at his story.
A loud, high-pitched laugh, often with a nuance of arrogance or scorn. Can sound haughty or theatrical.
悪役が高笑いをあげた。
The villain let out a loud, scornful laugh.
To describe the action of suddenly laughing loudly, often involuntarily.
Literally 'spurt out', meaning to burst out laughing suddenly and loudly, often when trying to hold it in. Very common.
あまりのおかしさに思わず噴き出した。
It was so funny I couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.
彼の顔を見て噴き出してしまった。
I burst out laughing when I saw his face.
Describes a group of people suddenly laughing loudly together, like a wave of laughter.
観客がどっと笑った。
The audience burst into loud laughter.
To emphasize the volume and energy of laughter, often in a lively atmosphere.
A literary or formal word for 'roaring laughter' or 'guffaw'. Often used in writing to describe a crowd laughing loudly.
酒場に哄笑が起こった。
Roaring laughter broke out in the bar.
An onomatopoeic expression for loud, unrestrained laughter, often continuous. Casual and vivid.
彼はテレビを見ながらゲラゲラ笑っている。
He's laughing loudly while watching TV.
大笑い (oowarai) is a general term for a big laugh, while 爆笑 (bakushou) implies an explosive, uproarious laughter that is often contagious. 爆笑 is stronger and more emphatic.
The English phrase 'loud laughter' is not directly translated as うるさい笑い (urusai warai), which would mean 'noisy/annoying laughter'. Use the words above depending on context.