微笑む
hohoemu[ho̞ho̞e̞mɯ̟]
The English verb smile can be translated into Japanese using either 微笑む (hohoemu) or 笑う.
Meaning: to have a smile on one's face (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 微笑む | hohoemu | [ho̞ho̞e̞mɯ̟] (narrow) [ho̞ːe̞mɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 笑う | warau | [β̞a̠ɾa̠ɯ̟] (narrow) |
The verb 微笑む describes a gentle, soft or subtle smile. In contrast, 笑う is a much broader, more common term that can mean to smile, laugh or even chuckle. If you wish to refer to a person's 'smiling face' or use 'smile' as a characteristic, you can use the noun 笑顔. To express doing something 'with a smile', such as speaking with a smile, you use the noun 笑顔 followed by the particle で.
Which one should you use?
微笑む specifically refers to a gentle or soft smile. 笑う is the general-purpose word used for any expression involving the mouth, covering everything from a smile to a laugh.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hohoemu
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, a smile can sometimes be used to mask embarrassment, sadness or frustration, a social behavior known as 'smiling' to maintain harmony.
- The verb 笑う originally shares a root with the verb 割る, meaning 'to split' or 'to crack'. This suggests that laughing or smiling was once conceived as the act of 'cracking' one's face or mouth open.
- In certain contexts, using the more general 笑う might accidentally imply that you are laughing at someone or something, rather than just smiling warmly.
Examples in context
- なぜ、人間は笑うのかという問題、これは、なかなかむずかしい問題であります。Why do humans smile? This is a very difficult question to answer.This example shows the use of 笑う in a philosophical context.Tatoeba #1241118 by Scott, translation #1246419 by alec
- 彼女はいつも素敵な笑顔で人々を元気づけます。She always cheers people up with her lovely smile.
- 彼はいつもニコニコと笑みを浮かべている。He always has a friendly smile on his face.
- 彼はいつもにっこりと微笑んでいる。He always has a gentle smile on his face.
- 彼女は優しく微笑む。Kanojo wa yasashiku hohoemu.She smiles gently.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smile” translations and entries 微笑む, 笑う, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 微笑む, 笑う, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
