Japanese word

笑い声

Pronunciation

Romajiwaraigoe

Meaning

  • nounlaughter

Example

子どもたちの笑い声が聞こえます。ko do mo ta chi no wara i goe ga ki ko e ma su

I can hear the children's laughter.

Illustration for 笑い声 (laughter)

More examples

緊張がほぐれると、会場から笑い声が起こりました。kin chō ga ho gu re ru to kai jō ka ra wara i goe ga o ko ri ma shi ta

When the tension eased, laughter broke out in the hall.

Core concept

Presents laughter as a sound produced by people, with attention on what a listener hears rather than on the act itself.

Common phrases

  • 笑い声が響くwara i goe ga hibi ku

    laughter echoes

  • 笑い声を上げるwara i goe o a ge ru

    burst into laughter

  • 笑い声に包まれるwara i goe ni tsutsu ma re ru

    be surrounded by laughter

Similar words

笑いwarai: A sound or expression produced by laughing.
哄笑kōshō: Strong, unrestrained laughter that fills a space.
忍び笑いshinobiwarai: A quiet laugh made while trying not to attract attention.
高笑いtakawarai: Loud, open laughter that shows strong amusement.

Definition in Japanese

人の笑いによって生じる声。hito no wara i ni yo tte shō ji ru koe

Word origin

笑う (warau, "to laugh") gives the noun-like form 笑い (warai, "laughter"), which combines with 声 (koe, "voice") to form 笑い声 (waraigoe).

Usage tips

  • Unlike a description of the act of laughing, 笑い声 (waraigoe) focuses on the sound that reaches a listener, so it fits laughter coming from another room.

Other meanings

  • laughnoun

Word lists with this word