22 Japanese ways to say “That’s hilarious”
Ever found yourself laughing so hard you just had to say, “That’s hilarious!” in another language? Japanese has so many fun and different ways to express that feeling, from casual slang to polite phrases.
Whether you’re chatting with friends, watching a comedy show, or trying to impress your language partner, knowing a variety of expressions can make your Japanese feel more natural and playful.
In this list, you’ll find 22 delightful ways to say “That’s hilarious” in Japanese, complete with pronunciation guides and little tips to help you remember.
Some are perfect for casual moments, others fit formal situations, and a few are just downright native-level cool. Ready to add some laughter to your Japanese? Let’s dive in!
Plus, learning these expressions can give you a deeper sense of Japanese humor and culture, making your conversations even more enjoyable.
So grab your favorite phrasebook or language app and let’s explore these hilarious Japanese expressions together!
Casual & Fun Expressions
Starting with the light-hearted and everyday ways to say “That’s hilarious” in Japanese.
These phrases are perfect for chatting with friends or reacting to something genuinely funny in a relaxed setting.
Keep these handy for your next casual conversation!
Sometimes, a great Japanese conversation guide can help you get the tone just right.
Knowing the right casual phrase can instantly boost your friendliness and connection with native speakers.
Try them out and see which one feels most like “you”!
Part 1: Casual Suggestions
1. 笑った！ (Waratta!) – “I laughed!”
This is the simplest way to say “I laughed” in Japanese and often used to show something was hilarious.
“Waratta” (wa-ra-tta) literally means “laughed” and is casual and straightforward to use.
It’s great when you want to react quickly and naturally without overthinking.
Think of it as the Japanese equivalent of “LOL” in text conversations.
You can also say 笑 (wara) as a short, playful form online or in texting.
Using “waratta” makes your reaction feel genuine and clear, perfect for friends or informal chats.
2. 最高！ (Saikou!) – “The best!” / “That’s awesome!”
“Saikou” (sa-i-kou) means “the best” and is often used when something is hilariously good or funny.
It’s easy to remember and expresses strong enthusiasm for a joke or funny moment.
Great for showing you loved the humor and found it top-notch.
Be careful not to overuse it in formal contexts—it’s very casual and lively.
For example, after a joke, you can say “Saikou!” to show you’re impressed by the humor.
It’s a fun way to hype up the moment and keep the vibe light.
3. ウケる！ (Ukeru!) – “That’s hilarious!” / “So funny!”
“Ukeru” (u-ke-ru) is a trendy slang word used to say something is really funny or hilarious.
It literally means “to receive,” but here it implies “I’m totally getting that joke!”
Common in everyday speech, especially among young people.
It’s like saying “LOL” or “That cracked me up!” in English.
Try it when something unexpectedly makes you laugh hard.
It’s casual and super expressive, so perfect for friends and informal situations.
4. 爆笑！ (Bakushou!) – “Burst out laughing!”
“Bakushou” (ba-ku-shou) means “burst out laughing” or “LOL” in a strong way.
It’s used to describe a big, uncontrollable laugh at something hilarious.
Perfect when you want to emphasize how funny something really was.
It’s a bit more intense than just “waratta” and often used online or in conversations.
For example, after a hilarious video, you might say, “Bakushou!”
It’s great for showing you found something ridiculously funny.
5. それ、やばい！ (Sore, yabai!) – “That’s crazy!” / “That’s hilarious!”
“Yabai” (ya-ba-i) is a very versatile slang word meaning “crazy,” “awesome,” or “terrible.”
When used about humor, it often means “that’s so funny it’s crazy!”
“Sore, yabai!” means “That’s crazy!” in a positive, impressed way.
Highly informal and popular among young people and in pop culture.
Use it when something is unexpectedly hilarious or shocking in a fun way.
It adds a bit of spice and energy to your reaction.
6. 面白すぎ！ (Omoshirosugi!) – “Too funny!”
“Omoshirosugi” (o-mo-shi-ro-su-gi) means “too interesting” or “too funny.”
It’s a casual phrase to express that something was overwhelmingly hilarious.
“Sugi” means “too much” or “excessively,” so it ups the emotional impact.
Great for when a joke or story really cracks you up.
Try saying it with a big smile to show you’re genuinely amused.
It’s a simple way to sound enthusiastic and natural.
7. ウケるんだけど！ (Ukerun da kedo!) – “That’s hilarious though!”
Adding “-n da kedo” to “Ukeru” makes it sound even more conversational and playful.
It roughly means “That’s hilarious though!” or “I can’t stop laughing!”
It adds a nuance of surprise or light contradiction.
Great for teasing friends or reacting to a funny but unexpected comment.
This expression is casual and full of personality.
Use it to show you’re both amused and impressed by the humor.
8. まじで笑った！ (Majide waratta!) – “Seriously, I laughed!”
“Majide” means “seriously” or “really,” so this phrase adds emphasis to your laughter.
“Majide waratta” means “I seriously laughed” or “That was seriously funny.”
It’s casual but perfect for showing genuine amusement.
Use it to stress that you found something really hilarious, not just mildly funny.
The phrase is often used among friends and in informal chats.
It’s a clear, heartfelt response to great humor.
Part 2: Polite & Formal Suggestions
9. とても面白いです！ (Totemo omoshiroi desu!) – “That’s very funny!”
This is a polite and respectful way to say “That’s very funny.”
“Totemo” means “very,” “omoshiroi” means “funny” or “interesting,” and “desu” adds politeness.
Perfect for formal situations or when speaking to someone you don’t know well.
It shows appreciation for humor without sounding too casual or slangy.
You might use it in a workplace or a classroom setting after a funny comment.
It’s a safe and polite option for expressing laughter in Japanese.
10. 笑いが止まりません。 (Warai ga tomarimasen.) – “I can’t stop laughing.”
This phrase is polite and expresses uncontrollable laughter.
“Warai” means “laugh,” “ga” is the subject particle, and “tomarimasen” means “can’t stop.”
It’s perfect for formal or semi-formal conversations.
Use it when you want to express you found something truly hilarious in a respectful way.
It’s a bit more descriptive and elegant than casual laughter phrases.
Great for showing genuine amusement while keeping politeness.
11. とても楽しいです！ (Totemo tanoshii desu!) – “That’s very enjoyable!”
“Tanoshii” means “fun” or “enjoyable,” and this phrase politely expresses delight.
It’s a formal way to say you enjoyed something funny, even if it’s not outright hilarious.
Use it when you want to keep things positive and polite.
It works well in professional or mixed company settings.
The phrase adds warmth and friendliness to your reaction.
Try it when you want to compliment humor without being too casual.
12. おかしくてたまらないです。 (Okashikute tamaranai desu.) – “It’s so funny, I can’t stand it.”
This is a polite phrase showing strong amusement in a refined way.
“Okashii” means “funny,” “tamaranai” means “unbearable” or “can’t stand,” and “desu” adds politeness.
It’s great for formal or respectful conversations.
Use it when you want to emphasize how funny something was without slang.
It carries a nice balance of emotion and etiquette.
Perfect for impressing your Japanese colleagues or teachers.
13. 笑顔になります。 (Egao ni narimasu.) – “It makes me smile.”
“Egao” means “smile,” and this phrase politely says “It makes me smile.”
It’s a warm, gentle way to express amusement or happiness.
Use it when you want to compliment a funny moment in a subtle way.
It’s appropriate in both formal and casual settings.
Great for showing appreciation without overt laughter.
It adds a calm, friendly tone to your reaction.
14. 本当に面白いですね。 (Hontou ni omoshiroi desu ne.) – “It’s really funny, isn’t it?”
This polite phrase emphasizes that something is genuinely funny and invites agreement.
“Hontou ni” means “really,” “omoshiroi” means “funny,” “desu ne” adds politeness and a soft question tone.
It’s perfect for conversations with respect and warmth.
Use it when you want to connect over humor in a gentle way.
Great for new acquaintances or formal friends.
It encourages shared laughter and bonding.
15. 笑わせていただきました。 (Warawasete itadakimashita.) – “You made me laugh.” (formal)
This very polite phrase thanks someone for making you laugh.
“Warawasete” is the causative form of “laugh,” and “itadakimashita” is a humble past tense “received.”
It’s used in highly formal or respectful situations.
Perfect for business or formal social contexts where humor was shared.
It shows gratitude and respect wrapped in laughter.
Use it to leave a positive, professional impression.
16. おもしろかったです。 (Omoshirokatta desu.) – “That was funny.”
This polite past-tense phrase simply states that something was funny.
“Omoshirokatta” is the past form of “omoshiroi” (funny), and “desu” adds politeness.
It’s very versatile and can be used in many polite contexts.
Great for showing appreciation after a funny story or joke.
It’s straightforward and respectful without being too casual.
A nice phrase to keep in your polite conversation toolkit.
Part 3: Very Casual / Native-like Expressions
17. それ、マジウケる！ (Sore, maji ukeru!) – “That’s seriously hilarious!”
“Maji” means “seriously,” and combined with “ukeru” it means “That’s seriously hilarious!”
This phrase is super casual and popular among young people.
It conveys strong amusement and surprise at the humor.
Use it to react to jokes or stories that hit you unexpectedly funny.
It’s like saying “That’s legit hilarious!” in English slang.
Perfect for chatting with friends and keeping it lively.
18. めっちゃ笑った！ (Meccha waratta!) – “I laughed so much!”
“Meccha” is Kansai dialect for “very” or “super,” making this a very casual and emphatic phrase.
“Meccha waratta” means “I laughed a lot” or “That was hilarious.”
It’s lively and expressive, perfect for friendly settings.
Great to use when you want to emphasize big laughter.
Try it to sound like a native who loves humor.
It adds warmth and excitement to your reaction.
19. 笑い死ぬかと思った。 (Warai shinu ka to omotta.) – “I thought I’d die laughing.”
This humorous phrase literally means “I thought I’d die from laughing.”
It’s a casual and very expressive way to say something was hilariously funny.
Use it to exaggerate your reaction in a playful way.
It’s often used among close friends or in informal chat.
Be aware it’s very casual and might not suit formal situations.
It’s a fun way to show you really lost it laughing.
20. めっちゃウケた！ (Meccha uketa!) – “That cracked me up!”
“Uketa” is the past tense of “ukeru,” meaning “I laughed” or “I was entertained.”
Adding “meccha” amps up the intensity to “I totally cracked up!”
Great for informal situations when something really made you laugh.
It’s lively and energetic, common among young people.
Use it to sound natural and full of fun.
Perfect for social media or chat messages with friends.
21. ヤバすぎて笑った。 (Yabasugite waratta.) – “It was so crazy funny, I laughed.”
“Yabasugite” means “too crazy” or “so extreme,” making this phrase a fun way to say “I laughed because it was so crazy.”
It’s casual and playful, often used among friends.
This phrase highlights a reaction to something outrageous or unexpectedly funny.
Try it to add energy and emphasis to your laughter.
It’s a bit like saying “That was insanely hilarious!” in English.
Great for storytelling or reacting to surprising jokes.
22. 笑いが止まらないんだけど！ (Warai ga tomaranain da kedo!) – “I just can’t stop laughing!”
This very casual and expressive phrase means “I can’t stop laughing!”
Adding “-n da kedo” makes it sound more conversational and lively.
Perfect for showing you’re overwhelmed by hilarity in a natural way.
It’s great for friendly chats and social media reactions.
Use it to sound like a native who’s genuinely amused.
It wraps up your laughter with playful energy and authenticity.
Concluding Thought
Exploring so many ways to say “That’s hilarious” in Japanese shows just how rich and playful the language can be.
From polite compliments to slangy bursts of laughter, these expressions help you connect deeper with Japanese culture and people.
So don’t be afraid to try them out, laugh loudly, and enjoy every moment of your language learning journey!
