1.
to sneer at; to ridicule; to mock
To laugh at someone or something with contempt or scorn. Stronger and more hostile than simply laughing at someone.
彼の失敗を嘲笑った。
They sneered at his failure.
人の努力を嘲笑うべきではない。
You shouldn't mock other people's efforts.
周囲に嘲笑われても、彼女は自分の夢を諦めなかった。
Even though those around her ridiculed her, she did not give up on her dream.
嘲笑う is a transitive godan verb. It carries a strongly negative nuance — contemptuous or scornful laughter directed at someone.
ASPECT (ている):
嘲笑っている describes the ongoing act of mocking someone.
PARTICLE PATTERNS:
- ～を嘲笑う (to mock someone/something)
- ～に嘲笑われる (to be ridiculed by someone — passive)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 人を嘲笑う (to mock a person)
- 失敗を嘲笑う (to sneer at a failure)
- 嘲笑うような態度 (a mocking attitude)
RELATED WORDS:
笑う is neutral laughter, 馬鹿にする is general making fun of. 嘲笑う is specifically contemptuous, scornful laughter — stronger and more literary than either.