Translation guide
Expressing contempt, scorn, or mockery toward someone or something, often with a facial expression or tone of voice.
To speak to or about someone with open contempt, often in a mocking or belittling way.
To make a facial expression that shows scorn or disgust, often without words.
To regard something as unworthy or beneath consideration, often with a sneering attitude.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches 'sneer at' in all contexts. Choose the expression based on whether the sneering is verbal, facial, or attitudinal. Using 嘲笑う or 鼻で笑う covers most cases.
彼は私の失敗を鼻で笑った。
He sneered at my failure.
嘲笑う (あざわらう) is the most common and versatile for sneering with laughter or words. 嘲る (あざける) is slightly more literary and sharp. 冷笑する (れいしょうする) is formal and implies cold, silent contempt.
To sneer at or mock someone openly, often with laughter or derision. Can be used for both verbal and non-verbal sneering.
彼は私の提案を嘲笑った。
He sneered at my proposal.
To sneer at or ridicule someone, often with a sharp tone. Slightly more literary than 嘲笑う.
彼女は彼の失敗を嘲った。
She sneered at his failure.
Literally 'laugh through the nose,' meaning to sneer or scoff at someone. Very common in spoken Japanese.
彼は私の努力を鼻で笑った。
He sneered at my efforts.
To sneer or laugh coldly at someone. More formal and often used in writing.
彼はその考えを冷笑した。
He sneered at the idea.
To sneer or smirk contemptuously. Often implies a silent, mocking smile.
彼は私を見てせせら笑った。
He sneered at me.
To put on a faint, scornful smile; to sneer subtly. Often used in narrative descriptions.
彼は薄ら笑いを浮かべて私を見下した。
He sneered at me with a faint smile.
To twist one's mouth in a sneer. Descriptive and often used in literature.
彼は口元を歪めて嘲笑った。
He sneered, twisting his mouth.
To look down on someone or something; to despise. Often implies a sneering attitude of superiority.
彼はいつも他人を見下している。
He always sneers at other people.
To scorn or despise. Stronger than 見下す, often used for moral contempt.
彼女は彼の行動を軽蔑した。
She sneered at his behavior.
To make fun of or treat someone as a fool. Very common in casual speech.
彼は私の夢を馬鹿にした。
He sneered at my dream.