Translation guide
The English word "laugh" covers a range of expressions from a quiet smile to loud, uncontrollable laughter. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 笑う (warau), but the appropriate word depends on the type of laugh, the situation, and the nuance you want to convey. This guide helps you choose the right expression.
To express amusement or joy with a sound or facial expression, in everyday situations.
The most common and versatile word for 'laugh' or 'smile'. It can refer to both the sound of laughter and the act of smiling. Use this as the default.
Everyone laughed at his joke.
The noun form of 笑う, meaning 'laughter' or 'a laugh'. Often used in compound words or to describe the act of laughing.
To laugh suddenly and loudly, often in an uncontrolled way.
Literally 'big laugh', meaning to laugh heartily or roar with laughter. Emphasizes the loudness and intensity.
To express amusement or friendliness with a facial expression, without audible laughter.
To laugh in a quiet, suppressed, or silly way.
To giggle or chuckle quietly, often in a restrained or secretive manner. The adverb くすくす mimics the sound of suppressed laughter.
To laugh at someone in a derisive or contemptuous way.
To laugh nervously or to cover up discomfort.
To give a bitter or wry smile; to laugh awkwardly. Used when something is not really funny but you smile anyway.
While 笑う is the most common translation, it can sound too direct or childish in some contexts. For a gentle smile, use 微笑む; for loud laughter, use 大笑いする or 爆笑する. Pay attention to the nuance.
She smiled but didn't laugh out loud.
She laughed happily.
I couldn't stop laughing.
Everyone burst out laughing at that story.
Literally 'explosive laugh', meaning to burst into laughter or laugh uproariously. Stronger than 大笑い, often used in casual contexts.
I cracked up at his story of failure.
To burst out laughing involuntarily, often when trying to hold it in. Literally 'spurt out'.
It was so funny that I burst out laughing without thinking.
To smile gently or softly. Often implies a warm, kind, or slightly amused expression. More refined than 笑う for a silent smile.
The baby smiled at me.
To smile broadly or grin. An onomatopoeic verb describing a cheerful, open smile.
She smiled and waved.
A literary expression meaning 'to wear a smile'. Used in writing or formal speech.
A smile played on his lips.
Someone was giggling in the back seat.
To laugh inwardly or chuckle to oneself, often with a knowing or sly nuance. Literally 'contained laugh'.
He chuckled to himself as if thinking of something.
To sneer or laugh scornfully at someone. Strongly negative.
He sneered at his colleague who had failed.
To laugh derisively or mockingly, often with a sneer. Similar to 嘲笑う but can be slightly less intense.
They scoffed at my proposal.
To laugh through one's nose; to snort derisively. Literally 'laugh with the nose'.
He snorted at my opinion.
He gave a wry smile at his own mistake.
To give a forced or polite smile; to laugh just to be sociable. Often used in customer service or to maintain harmony.
She gave a polite laugh at her boss's boring joke.
笑う can mean both 'laugh' and 'smile', but when you want to emphasize a silent, gentle smile, 微笑む is more precise. 笑う often implies audible laughter unless context specifies otherwise.
He laughed. → Likely audible laughter.
He smiled. → Silent smile.
Japanese has many onomatopoeic words to describe different types of laughter. Common ones include くすくす (giggling), げらげら (loud, hearty laughter), にこにこ (smiling happily), and にやにや (grinning slyly). These are often used with 笑う or する.
The children were laughing loudly.