The Meaning of "失笑"

Jul 27, 2015 13:17
Today, I'd like to introduce the word "失笑," which is misunderstood by many Japanese people.

Although the true meaning of "失笑" is to burst out laughing, around 70% Japanese think it as to laugh scornfully.

I think the reason why is that the main meaning of "失" is "lost."

If we read the sentence "笑いを失う," we would think it as something like "it wasn't funny thing."

However, the meaning of "失" in "失笑" is "mistake."

Therefore "失笑" means mistaking laughing, and it was extended to mean bursting out laughing.

After you read this post, you would be more savvy about "失笑" than many Japanese people, but please be careful when you use it.

Because many of us regard "失笑" as a bad meaning.
No. 1 あらた
  • Today, I'd like to introduce the word "失笑," which is misunderstood by many Japanese people.
  • Today, I'd like to introduce the word "失笑," which is often misunderstood by many Japanese people.
  • Although the true meaning of "失笑" is to burst out laughing, around 70% Japanese think it as to laugh scornfully.
  • Although the true meaning of "失笑" is to burst out laughing, around 70% of Japanese people think it means as to laugh scornfully.
  • I think the reason why is that the main meaning of "失" is "lost."
  • I think the reason why Japanese people make this mistake is because the meaning of "失" is "lost".
  • If we read the sentence "笑いを失う," we would think it as something like "it wasn't funny thing."
  • For example, the sentence "笑いを失う," means "it wasn't funny".
  • However, the meaning of "失" in "失笑" is "mistake."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Therefore "失笑" means mistaking laughing, and it was extended to mean bursting out laughing.
  • Therefore, "失笑" means laughing by mistake, or in other words, bursting out in laughter.
  • After you read this post, you would be more savvy about "失笑" than many Japanese people, but please be careful when you use it.
  • Now that you have read this post, you can be more savvy with "失笑", but please be careful when you use it.

    You could also say, "Now that you've read this post, you understand the meaning of "失笑" better than most Japanese people, but please be careful when you use it".

  • Because many of us regard "失笑" as a bad meaning.
  • Because many of us still regard "失笑" with a negative connotation.
Toru
Thank you very much for correcting my post! :D
No. 2 Onetonwonton
  • Today, I'd like to introduce the word "失笑," which is misunderstood by many Japanese people.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Although the true meaning of "失笑" is to burst out laughing, around 70% Japanese think it as to laugh scornfully.
  • Although the true meaning of "失笑" is to burst out laughing, around 70% of the Japanese population thinks it as means to laugh scornfully.
  • I think the reason why is that the main meaning of "失" is "lost."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • If we read the sentence "笑いを失う," we would think it as something like "it wasn't funny thing."
  • If we read the sentence "笑いを失う," we would think it as something like "it wasn't funny thing."
  • However, the meaning of "失" in "失笑" is "mistake."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Therefore "失笑" means mistaking laughing, and it was extended to mean bursting out laughing.
  • Therefore "失笑" means mistaking laughter, and it was extended to mean bursting out laughter.

    Does "bursting out laughter" mean "laughing out loud?"

  • After you read this post, you would be more savvy about "失笑" than many Japanese people, but please be careful when you use it.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Because many of us regard "失笑" as a bad meaning.
  • Because many of us regard "失笑" as with a bad meaning.
Onetonwonton
  • Therefore "失笑" means mistaking laughter, and it was extended to mean bursting out laughter.

    Does "bursting out laughter" mean "laughing out loud?"

Sorry, meant "mistaken laughter."
Toru
  • Therefore "失笑" means mistaking laughter, and it was extended to mean bursting out laughter.

    Does "bursting out laughter" mean "laughing out loud?"

Thank you very much for correcting me! :)
> Does "bursting out laughter(←mistaken laughter?)" mean "laughing out loud?"
I think it's a little different meaning. I wanted to use "mistaken laughter" as the meaning of situation like the following:
(During an important meeting) Tom should not laugh in the meeting, but he find something funny, and eventually he fail to stifle a laugh. "Pff!"
No. 3 Mike

誤用といえば、他にも有名な例がありますね。「浮足立つ」、「煮詰まるところ」とか。

Toru
お詳しいですね!
そのどちらも、正しい意味で使っている人をほとんど見たことがありません。(笑)
また、私の大学では「敷居が高い」を間違った意味で使う人が本当に多いです。