Translation guide
A light, often silly laugh, usually quiet and repeated. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is くすくす笑う, an onomatopoeic adverb describing suppressed laughter. Other options include けらけら笑う for a more open, cheerful giggle, and the noun 忍び笑い for a stifled laugh. The verb 笑う alone can also be used with context.
To laugh in a quiet, stifled manner, often with the mouth covered or trying not to be heard.
The most common way to describe a giggle. くすくす is an onomatopoeia for suppressed, quiet laughter. Often used when someone is trying not to laugh out loud.
彼女は後ろでくすくす笑っていた。
She was giggling behind me.
The children hid while giggling.
A noun meaning 'stifled laughter' or 'suppressed laugh'. It emphasizes the act of hiding one's laughter.
会議中に忍び笑いが聞こえた。
I heard a stifled giggle during the meeting.
A variant of くすくす, implying a single, short suppressed laugh or snicker. Often used for a quick, quiet giggle.
彼の冗談に彼女はくすっと笑った。
She giggled at his joke.
To laugh in a happy, carefree, and somewhat silly way, often openly.
Onomatopoeia for a light, cheerful, and somewhat high-pitched laugh. Often used for children or when someone is in a very good mood.
赤ちゃんがけらけら笑っている。
The baby is giggling happily.
彼女は友達の話にけらけら笑った。
She giggled at her friend's story.
Onomatopoeia for a rolling, cheerful laugh, often used for a pleasant, bubbly giggle.
少女たちはころころ笑いながら遊んでいた。
The girls were playing and giggling.
To express giggling without a specific onomatopoeia, relying on context or modifiers.
The general verb for 'to laugh'. Can mean giggle when context implies a light laugh. Often modified with adverbs like 小さく (quietly) or 楽しそうに (happily).
彼女は小さく笑った。
She giggled quietly.
彼はその冗談に笑った。
He giggled at the joke.
くすくす is a suppressed, quiet giggle, often with the mouth covered. けらけら is a light, cheerful, open giggle. げらげら is a loud, unrestrained laugh, closer to 'guffaw' than 'giggle'.
English often uses 'giggle' as a noun (e.g., 'I heard a giggle'). In Japanese, it's more natural to use the verb phrase (e.g., くすくす笑う声が聞こえた 'I heard the sound of giggling') or the noun 忍び笑い for a stifled laugh.
彼女はくすっと笑った。
She let out a giggle.
子どもたちは隅でくすくす笑っていた。
The children were giggling in the corner.
思わずくすくす笑ってしまった。
I couldn't help but giggle.