How to say "chuckle" in Japanese

• くすくす
  adverb (with と)An onomatopoeic word for quiet, repeated chuckling or giggling — soft laughter kept low, as when you keep laughing under your breath at something amusing.
• ウフッ
  noun, adverb (with と)A short, soft laugh voiced aloud — the sound itself rather than a description of laughing quietly; it fits a single amused chuckle escaping someone, as written in dialogue.
  彼女かのじょは彼かれが精一杯せいいっぱいのおめかしをしてきたのを見みて、ウフッと笑わらった。↗

  When she saw the lengths he'd gone to to get all dressed up, she couldn't help letting a brief chuckle escape.
• 盗み笑いぬすみわらい
  noun, suru verbLaughter you try to hide from others, chuckling secretly so that those around you will not notice; it often carries a sly or mocking edge, like sniggering.
• 含み笑いふくみわらい
  noun, suru verbA laugh held in rather than let out — amusement you keep from sounding, so that only a smile or a suppressed chuckle shows; it fits someone trying not to laugh out loud.

Choose 「くすくす」 for quiet, repeated chuckling, 「ウフッ」 for a short soft laugh voiced aloud, 「盗み笑い」 for secret or sniggering laughter, and 「含み笑い」 for laughter held in and suppressed.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• くすくすchuckle
• ウフッchuckle
• 盗み笑いぬすみわらいchuckle
• 含み笑いふくみわらいsuppressed laugh