“To laugh” in Japanese is 笑う (わらう), pronounced warau.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
To laugh or smile. Online, ｗ and 笑 come from this verb and mean “lol”.
Example sentences
- みんな笑いました。みんなわらいました。Everyone laughed.
- 笑ってください。わらってください。Smile, please.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 笑う. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 笑う わらう | laugh |
| Polite present | 笑います わらいます | laugh |
| Polite negative | 笑いません わらいません | don’t laugh |
| Polite past | 笑いました わらいました | past of “laugh” |
| Plain negative (ない) | 笑わない わらわない | don’t laugh (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | 笑った わらった | past of “laugh” (casual) |
| て-form | 笑って わらって | laugh and… / please laugh (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | 笑いたい わらいたい | want to laugh |
Quick practice
Test yourself0/3
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Related words: Everyday verbs
FAQ
How do you say to laugh in Japanese?
To laugh in Japanese is 笑う (わらう), pronounced “warau”.
How do you write to laugh in Japanese?
It's written 笑う with kanji, or わらう in hiragana. Both are read warau.
Is 笑う on the JLPT?
Yes. 笑う (warau) is a common word at JLPT N4 level, so it's worth learning early.