Translation guide
A sudden, spontaneous outbreak of laughter, often loud and uncontrollable. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific mimetic words, verbs, and phrases that capture the suddenness and intensity.
Describing a sudden, explosive laugh from one or more people.
Literally 'explosive laughter'. A common noun/suru-verb for a burst of loud laughter, often used when a group erupts in laughter.
彼の冗談にみんなが爆笑した。
Everyone burst out laughing at his joke.
The adverb どっと describes a sudden, simultaneous outburst, often of laughter or cheers. Used with 笑う (to laugh).
会場がどっと笑った。
The audience burst into laughter.
A hearty, loud laugh. Can be used as a noun or suru-verb. Less explosive than 爆笑, but still conveys a strong laugh.
その話を聞いて大笑いした。
I burst out laughing when I heard that story.
Literally 'spurt out'. Describes the act of involuntarily bursting into laughter, often when trying to hold it in. Very vivid.
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 bursting out laughing.
A literary term for a roar of laughter, often used in written descriptions of crowds or groups laughing loudly.
場内に哄笑が起こった。
A roar of laughter erupted in the hall.
When one person suddenly laughs out loud, often involuntarily.
Same as above, but often used for a single person who can't hold back laughter.
彼は吹き出して、コーヒーをこぼした。
He burst out laughing and spilled his coffee.
A common phrase meaning 'to laugh involuntarily'. 思わず (without thinking) + 笑ってしまう (end up laughing).
彼の変な顔を見て、思わず笑ってしまった。
I burst out laughing when I saw his funny face.
The onomatopoeia ぷっと adds a sense of suddenness and lightness to 吹き出す, like a 'pfft' of laughter.
彼女はぷっと吹き出した。
She burst out laughing with a snort.
When a whole group suddenly starts laughing together.
Literally 'laughter occurs'. A natural way to say laughter broke out among a group.
教室に笑いが起こった。
A burst of laughter erupted in the classroom.
A more dramatic, literary expression meaning 'to be engulfed in a whirlpool of laughter'.
会場は笑いの渦に包まれた。
The venue was engulfed in a burst of laughter.
爆笑 (explosive laughter) is often used for group laughter or very loud laughter. 大笑い (big laugh) is a general hearty laugh, less sudden. 吹き出す (spurt out) emphasizes the involuntary, sudden nature of the laugh, often when trying to suppress it.
コントを見て爆笑した。
We burst out laughing at the comedy sketch.
彼の失敗に大笑いした。
We had a good laugh at his mistake.
真面目な顔をしているので、吹き出しそうになった。
He had such a serious face I almost burst out laughing.
The English phrase 'burst of laughter' does not translate directly into a single Japanese noun. Avoid literal translations like 笑いの破裂. Use the verbs and phrases above instead.
He had such a serious face I almost burst out laughing.
The English phrase 'burst of laughter' does not translate directly into a single Japanese noun. Avoid literal translations like 笑いの破裂. Use the verbs and phrases above instead.