笑う

• (to bloom; to ripen): (less common) 咲う
• (to make fun of): (less common) 嗤う

Derived from verb 割る (waru, “to split, to break, to crack”), as imperfect form wara- + auxiliary verb ふ (fu, indicating repetition or ongoing state: modern verb ending う u): "to be in the act of cracking up / breaking open".^[1]

• (Tokyo) わらう (Heiban – )^[2][3][4]
• (Tokyo) わらう (Odaka – )^[3]
• IPA^(key):

笑(わら)う • (warau) ^{←わらふ (warafu)?}intransitive godan (stem 笑(わら)い (warai), past 笑(わら)った (waratta))

1. to spontaneously express joy or amusement by means of the voice or facial expression:
   1. to laugh
      • 794, Shin'yaku Kegonkyō Ongi Shiki, page 96:

        微笑 下音焼 訓和良布^[5]

        (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   2. to smile

      マイクはよく笑(わら)いますよね。

      Maiku wa yoku waraimasu yo ne.

      Mike laughs / smiles a lot, doesn't he.

2. to split open (as a plant bud), to bloom

   桜(さくら)の花(はな)が笑(わら)う

   sakura no hana ga warau

   the cherry flowers bloom

3. to split open from ripening (as fruit or vegetables)

   栗(くり)が笑(わら)っている時期(じき)

   kuri ga waratte iru jiki

   the season when the chestnuts ripen and split open

4. (figurative) to bud, become green and verdant, and bloom in spring (as the landscape)

   山(やま)の景(け)色(しき)が笑(わら)う

   yama no keshiki ga warau

   the mountain landscape comes alive / quickens / blooms

5. to come undone (as a stitch or seam)

   縫(ぬ)い目(め)が笑(わら)っている

   nuime ga waratte iru

   the seam is coming open

6. (slang) to become weak and wobbly (as in the knees)

   膝(ひざ)が笑(わら)う

   hiza ga warau

   go wobbly in the knees

笑(わら)う • (warau) ^{←わらふ (warafu)?}transitive godan (stem 笑(わら)い (warai), past 笑(わら)った (waratta))

1. to laugh at, to make fun of, to make a fool of

   ジュディは私(わたし)を笑(わら)った。

   Judi wa watashi o waratta.

   Judy laughed at me / made fun of me / made a fool of me.