Laugh, Smile

Interesting Fact

One of the poetic uses of 笑う is 花が笑う, literally “flowers laugh.” It means flowers are blooming or opening beautifully. This isn't simply a cute metaphor: Japanese poetry and traditional literature often describe nature as if it has human emotions and actions. There is also 山笑う, “the mountains laugh,” an expression associated with mountains becoming fresh and lively with spring greenery.