笑: the kanji for laugh; smile
笑 is a JLPT N3 kanji that means laugh; smile. Below are its readings, 2 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
笑 is written in 10 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
笑 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 2 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ショウ (shou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 笑顔えがお · egao | smiling face |
わらう (warau)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 笑うわらう · warau | to laugh; to smile |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 彼女はいつも笑顔です。Kanojo wa itsumo egao desu.She always has a smiling face.
- みんなで冗談を言って笑った。Minna de jōdan o itte waratta.We all told jokes and laughed.
- 子どもの笑顔を見るとうれしい。Kodomo no egao o miru to ureshii.I'm happy when I see a child's smiling face.
- 面白い話にみんなが笑った。Omoshiroi hanashi ni minna ga waratta.Everyone laughed at the funny story.
- 店員の笑顔が印象に残った。Ten'in no egao ga inshō ni nokotta.The staff member's smile left an impression.
Questions about 笑
How many strokes does 笑 have?
笑 is written in 10 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 笑?
The on readings are shou (ショウ). The kun readings are warau (わらう), emu (えむ).
What JLPT level is 笑?
N3. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N3 falls between the former Levels 2 and 3.
More JLPT N3 kanji
Qualities and conditions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 笑
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.