Meaning and Usage
The verb 笑う (わらう) primarily means "to laugh" or "to smile." It is used to describe the physical act of laughing or smiling in response to humor, happiness, or amusement.
Common Contexts
笑う is often used when talking about reactions to jokes, funny situations, or joyful moments. It can describe both loud laughter and gentle smiling depending on context.
Collocations and Patterns
- 笑う (わらう): to laugh or smile generally.
- 大きく笑う (おおきくわらう): to laugh heartily or loudly.
- 笑って遊ぶ (わらってあそぶ): to play while laughing, showing joy.
- 冗談に笑う (じょうだんにわらう): to laugh at a joke.
Register and Nuance
笑う is a common, neutral verb used in everyday conversation. It can be polite or casual depending on sentence structure but is generally informal by itself.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 笑う with 笑顔 (えがお), which means "smiling face." 笑う is the action (to laugh/smile), while 笑顔 is a noun describing the expression. Use 笑う when describing the act of laughing or smiling.