もっと笑って
motto waratte
To say "smile more" in Japanese, you use もっと笑って (motto waratte).
This phrase is used as a request or suggestion for someone to show a happier expression or to laugh more often.
Which one should you use?
The default form もっと笑って is an informal command or request. For a more polite request, use もっと笑ってください. To suggest a shared action, such as "Let's smile more", use もっと笑おうよ. If you want to specifically ask someone to show more smiles, use もっと笑顔を見せてください. The form もっと笑ってよ is used among friends to mean "Just smile more". Finally, 微笑み refers to a smile itself, specifically one that is subtle or delicate.
How do you pronounce it?
motto waratte
Did you know?
- The phrase 笑う can also mean 'to make fun of' or 'to ridicule' someone. Depending on the context, telling someone to もっと笑って could be misinterpreted as an invitation to mock others.
- Japanese has a specific term 苦笑い (nigawarai) to describe a 'bitter smile'. This is a precise word for the strained expression people make when they are embarrassed or awkward.
- Japanese service workers are often trained in 接客笑顔, a specialized 'customer service smile' designed to maintain social harmony regardless of the worker's actual feelings.
Examples in context
- もっと笑顔で頑張ってください！Please keep smiling and do your best!
- もっと笑って！motto waratte!Smile more!
- 写真はもっと笑って撮ってほしいな。shashin wa motto waratte totte hoshii na.I want you to smile more in photos.
Example conversation
Yui is taking a photo of Kenta, who looks too serious.
- 結衣 Yui健太くん、もっと笑って！Kenta-kun, motto waratte!Kenta, smile more!
- 健太 Kenta難しいよ。muzukashii yo.It's hard.
- 結衣 Yuiほら、もっと笑って。hora, motto waratte.Come on, smile more.
- 健太 Kentaわかった、頑張るよ。wakatta, ganbaru yo.Okay, I'll try.
