笑うのをやめて
warau no o yamete
The English phrase "stop laughing" is translated into Japanese as 笑うのをやめて (warau no o yamete).
This phrase is used as a request or command to tell someone to cease their laughter.
Which one should you use?
The phrase 笑うのをやめて is a soft command or request.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal situations, you might say 笑わないでよ (warawanaide yo) to say "Don't laugh." For very formal situations, such as when you want to be extremely polite and apologetic, you can use the expression 失礼ですが、笑わないでいただけませんか？ (Shitsurei desu ga, warawanaide itadakemasen ka?), which means "I apologize for the intrusion, but could you please refrain from laughing?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 笑うのをやめて uses the te-form, which allows it to function as a soft command or a request in casual speech.
How do you pronounce it?
warau no o yamete
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese theater and etiquette, covering the mouth with a hand or a fan while laughing is a cultural norm, especially for women, to maintain modesty.
- While 笑う (warau) is the general word for 'laugh', Japanese has a specific word 苦笑い (kugurai) for a 'bitter' or 'strained' smile used to mask embarrassment or awkwardness.
- In Japanese, laughter is often described as something that 'happens' to a person rather than something they do, as seen in the phrase 笑いが止まらない where laughter is the subject that refuses to stop.
Examples in context
- 笑うのをやめてください。warau no o yamete kudasai.Please stop laughing.
- いいから、笑うのをやめて。ii kara, warau no o yamete.Just stop laughing, okay?
- 恥ずかしいから、笑うのをやめて！hazukashii kara, warau no o yamete!Stop laughing, it's embarrassing!
Example conversation
Himari is trying to tell a serious story and Hiroto keeps giggling.
- 陽葵 Himari真面目な話してるんだから、笑うのをやめて。majime na hanashi shiteru ndakara, warau no o yamete.I'm telling a serious story, so stop laughing.
- 大翔 Hirotoごめん、でもどうしても笑っちゃうよ。gomen, demo doushitemo waracchau yo.Sorry, but I can't help laughing.
- 陽葵 Himariもう、笑うのをやめてよ！mou, warau no o yamete yo!Geez, stop laughing!
- 大翔 Hirotoわかった、もう笑わないよ。wakatta, mou warawanai yo.Alright, I won't laugh anymore.
