Translation guide
How to express causing someone to laugh in Japanese, from making jokes to amusing people.
彼は私を笑わせる。
He makes me laugh.
その冗談はみんなを笑わせた。
That joke made everyone laugh.
To cause a person to laugh, e.g., by telling a joke or doing something funny.
The most direct and common way to say 'make someone laugh'. It is the causative form of 笑う (to laugh).
彼はいつも私を笑わせる。
He always makes me laugh.
その冗談はみんなを笑わせた。
That joke made everyone laugh.
Literally 'to get a laugh'. Used when someone intentionally tries to make people laugh, like a comedian or in a social situation.
彼は会議で笑いを取ろうとした。
He tried to get a laugh at the meeting.
Literally 'to invite laughter'. Often used when something unintentionally causes laughter, or in a more literary context.
彼の失敗が笑いを誘った。
His mistake caused laughter.
To keep someone entertained in a light-hearted way, not necessarily with loud laughter.
Causative of 楽しむ (to enjoy). Means to amuse or entertain someone. Broader than just making them laugh.
彼は子供たちを手品で楽しませた。
He amused the children with magic tricks.
Literally 'to make someone smile'. A softer expression than 'make laugh', often used in emotional contexts.
彼女の言葉が私を笑顔にした。
Her words made me smile.
To make someone laugh uncontrollably, often in casual speech.
Causative of 爆笑 (loud laughter). Means to make someone burst out laughing. Very casual.
あの動画はいつも私を爆笑させる。
That video always cracks me up.
Literally 'to make someone hold their stomach laughing'. Emphasizes intense laughter.
彼の話はいつも私を腹を抱えて笑わせる。
His stories always make me laugh my head off.
The verb 笑う (warau) is intransitive. You cannot say 彼を笑う to mean 'make him laugh'. Use the causative form 笑わせる instead.
彼を笑わせる
make him laugh