How to say "laugh" in Japanese

• 笑いわらいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe noun: a laugh or laughter, the act or sound of laughing. This is the word you want when English needs the noun, as in laughter filling a room.
  赤ん坊あかんぼうは敵意てきいのある笑わらいができるほど年としをとってはいない。↗

  The baby is not old enough to be capable of hostile laughter.
• 笑うわらうJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe verb 'to laugh': use it whenever you describe someone laughing, as in laughing at a joke or laughing out loud. It is the basic verb corresponding to English 'laugh'.
  クラスのもの皆みなが彼かれの冗談じょうだんに笑わらった。↗

  The whole class laughed at his joke.
• 一笑いっしょうCommon
  noun, suru verbA compact noun meaning a laugh or a smile, presenting it as a single act. It is seldom the word you want for an ordinary 'laugh'; 笑い is the everyday noun.

Choose 「笑う」 when you need the verb 'to laugh', 「笑い」 for the everyday noun 'a laugh' or 'laughter', and 一笑 for a compact noun treating a laugh or smile as a single act — rarely the direct translation of 'laugh'.

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

• 笑いわらいlaugh
• 笑うわらうto laugh
• 一笑いっしょうlaugh
• 笑声しょうせいlaugh
• 笑えるわらえるto laugh
• 笑けるわらけるto laugh (suddenly)
• 草生えるくさはえるto laugh