笑い (わらい, warai) Japanese meaning: laugh

笑い (わらい, warai) Japanese meaning: laugh | Kotomora

Kanji

笑え顔がおN3sense 2
笑顔 refers specifically to a smiling facial expression, while 笑い can mean the act of laughing, a smile, or even a sneer depending on context.
微び笑しょうN1sense 2
微笑 is a more formal, literary word for a gentle smile, whereas 笑い is the everyday general term that can cover smiling or laughing.
嘲ちょう笑しょう sense 3
嘲笑 is a strong, explicit word for mockery or ridicule, while 笑い (often written 嗤い) conveys derision more softly or indirectly.
笑わらい声ごえN1
笑い is the general noun for laughing or a laugh, while 笑い声 specifically points to the audible sound produced while laughing.

Show 4 more

笑わら
笑い is the standard noun meaning 'laughter' or 'a laugh', while 笑 is internet slang tacked onto sentences to mean 'lol' or 'haha'.
お笑わらい
笑い is the plain word for laughter or a laugh in general, while お笑い specifically points to comedic performance content or a ridiculous, laughable matter.
ユーモアN4
笑い is the laughter or laugh itself, whereas ユーモア is the humor that causes it.
大おお笑わらい
笑い is the general noun for laughter of any size, while 大笑い specifically means a loud, hearty laugh.

涙なみだN4sense 1
笑い (laughter) and 涙 (tears) are often paired as opposite emotional expressions, as in the phrase 笑いと涙.

笑えみ
笑い means laughter or laughing (often with sound), whereas 笑み refers only to a silent, gentle smile.

お笑わらい
comical story or song; comic piece · the comedy business; comedy world · something laughable; a laughing matter
笑わらい声ごえN1
sound of laughter; laughing voice
大おお笑わらい
great laughter; burst of laughter; roaring laugh
苦にが笑わらい

笑わらいUsage17%
Standard kanji spelling for laugh, laughter, and smile.
笑わらいUsage83%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; less common but still encountered.
嗤わらいUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form used especially for sneering or derisive laughter.

Nominalized form of the verb 笑う (わらう, 'to laugh'). The kanji 笑 is used broadly for laughter and smiles; 嗤 is a rarer variant for sneering.