Translation guide
How to express causing someone to laugh in Japanese, from making jokes to amusing people.
He makes me laugh.
That joke made everyone laugh.
The most direct and common way to say 'make someone laugh'. It is the causative form of 笑う (to laugh).
He always makes me laugh.
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.
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.
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.
He amused the children with magic tricks.
Literally 'to make someone smile'. A softer expression than 'make laugh', often used in emotional contexts.
Her words made me smile.
To make someone laugh uncontrollably, often in casual speech.
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.
make him laugh
His stories always make me laugh my head off.