What is the difference between "わらう" and "笑う"?

"わらう" means "to laugh, to smile" (N5), whereas "笑う" represents "to laugh, to smile" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "わらう (warau)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

わらう (warau)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

わらう (warau)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "わらう (warau)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

わらう (Level: N5): Translates to "to laugh, to smile" and is used when Expresses happiness or amusement. 「笑顔.
笑う (Level: N4): Maps to "to laugh, to smile" and carries the nuance of Expresses amusement, happiness, or sometimes sarcasm, with a laugh or smile..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "わらう"

彼女はいつも笑顔で笑っています。

She is always laughing with a smile.

Bilingual Context for "笑う"

面白い話を聞いて、みんなで笑った。

We all laughed after hearing the funny story.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "彼女はいつも笑顔で笑っています。" (Meaning: "She is always laughing with a smile.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "わらう" is used for "to laugh, to smile" in the context: "She is always laughing with a smile.".