Japanese word

あざ笑う

Pronunciation

Romajiazawarau

Meaning

  • verbridicule

Example

彼らはその考えをあざ笑いました。kare ra wa so no kanga e o a za wara i ma shi ta

They ridiculed the idea.

Illustration for あざ笑う (ridicule)

More examples

人前で他人をあざ笑ってはいけません。hito mae de ta nin o a za wara tte wa i ke ma se n

You must not ridicule others in public.

Core concept

Treats a person, idea, or action as laughable in order to show scorn.

Common phrases

  • 相手をあざ笑うai te o a za wara u

    ridicule one's opponent

  • 弱さをあざ笑うyowa sa o a za wara u

    mock someone's weakness

  • 失敗した人をあざ笑うship pai shi ta hito o a za wara u

    ridicule someone who failed

Similar words

嘲るazakeru: To show contempt by making someone or something the object of mockery.
嘲笑するchōshōsuru: To express scorn by laughing at a person, idea, or action.
冷笑するreishōsuru: To respond with a cold, scornful laugh or remark.
揶揄するyayusuru: To make fun of a person or idea through indirect or playful mockery.

Definition in Japanese

人や考えなどを、価値がないものとして笑いものにする。hito ya kanga e na do o ka chi ga na i mo no to shi te wara i mo no ni su ru

Word origin

The native verb あざ笑う (azawarau) combines あざける (azakeru, "to mock") and 笑う (warau, "to laugh"), expressing scornful laughter.

Usage tips

  • Ridicule is more formal than laugh at and often appears in reports about public attacks on ideas, policies, or people.

Other meanings

  • laugh atverb
  • make fun ofverb

Opposites

  • 称賛するshōsansurupraiseverb

Word lists with this word