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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
The onomatopoeia ぷっと adds a sense of suddenness and lightness to 吹き出す, like a 'pfft' of laughter.
She burst out laughing with a snort.
When a whole group suddenly starts laughing together.
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.
We burst out laughing at the comedy sketch.
We had a good laugh at his mistake.
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.
I burst out laughing when I saw his funny face.
The venue was engulfed in a burst of laughter.