笑う

わらう
Alternative writings: 嗤う, 哂う, 咲う
JLPT:N4
Frequency:
1

To laugh (to make a vocal sound indicating amusement).

U-VerbIntransitive Verb

Examples

友達の冗談にみんなが大きく笑った。

Everyone laughed heartily at the friend's joke.

その場の雰囲気が和んで、つい笑ってしまった。

The mood relaxed and I couldn't help laughing.

赤ちゃんの笑う声はとても可愛い。

A baby's laugh is very cute.

2

To smile (to show a mild, often silent expression of amusement or pleasure).

U-VerbIntransitive Verb

Examples

彼女は恥ずかしそうに笑った。

She smiled shyly.

先生は生徒の答えににこりと笑った。

The teacher smiled at the student's answer.

窓の外を見て、彼は静かに笑った。

He looked out the window and smiled quietly.

3

To sneer at or ridicule (to laugh scornfully at someone or something).

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

彼は相手の失敗を嗤ってはいけない。

You must not sneer at someone's failure.

部下のミスを上司が笑うような態度を取った。

The boss took an attitude that seemed to laugh at the subordinate's mistake.

4

To be dumbfounded or flabbergasted to the point of laughing (to laugh as a consequence of astonishment or disbelief).

U-VerbIntransitive Verb

Examples

あまりの失敗続きに、みんな呆れて笑ってしまった。

There were so many failures that everyone was dumbfounded and laughed.

彼の見事な勘違いに、思わず笑ってしまった。

At his spectacular misunderstanding, I couldn't help laughing.

Word Relationships

Antonym
Derivations
Masu-Form笑います
Nai-Form笑わない
Ta-Form笑った
Te-Form笑って
Ba-Form笑えば
Volitional Form笑おう
Imperative Form笑え
Potential Form笑える
Passive Form笑われる
Causative Form笑わせる
Causative Passive Form笑わせられる