Japanese word

笑う

Pronunciation

Romajiwarau

Meaning

  • verblaugh

Example

その子は笑いました。so no ko wa wara i ma shi ta

The child laughed.

Illustration for 笑う (laugh)

More examples

みんなでいっしょに笑います。mi n na de i ssho ni wara i ma su

We all laugh together.

友達の冗談を聞いて、みんなで笑いました。tomo dachi no jō dan o ki i te mi n na de wara i ma shi ta

We all laughed when we heard our friend's joke.

Core concept

Centers on an outward sign of amusement that may appear as a smile or develop into laughter.

Common phrases

  • 大声で笑うō goe de wara u

    laugh loudly

  • 一緒に笑うis sho ni wara u

    laugh together

  • 思わず笑うomo wa zu wara u

    laugh without meaning to

Similar words

微笑むhohoemu: To make a gentle smile that expresses pleasure or warmth.

Definition in Japanese

面白さや喜びを感じ、笑い声を立てたり表情をほころばせたりする。omo shiro sa ya yoroko bi o kan ji wara i goe o ta te ta ri hyō jō o ho ko ro ba se ta ri su ru

Word origin

笑う (warau) is a native Japanese verb inherited from 笑ふ (warafu, "to laugh or smile"); its modern form preserves the older meaning after the f sound changed to w.

Usage tips

  • The polite past form 笑いました (waraimashita) shows that 笑う (warau) changes to 笑い (warai) before ました (mashita).

Other meanings

  • smileverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 笑いwarailaughternoun
  • 笑い方waraikataway of laughingnoun

Word lists with this word