Entry
うふふ
ufufu
A gentle, subdued chuckle, conventionally associated with a feminine tone.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
An onomatopoeic word that mimics a soft, polite, and elegant laugh. It is heavily associated with femininity in Japanese media and can convey amusement, politeness, or a coy, knowing attitude.
- Polite gentle laugh
- Coy or knowing smile
Sense Map
Elegant / Gentle Laugh
Represents a quiet, polite laugh, often with the speaker covering their mouth.
口元を押さえてうふふと笑う。
Coy / Knowing Smile
A suppressed laugh showing quiet satisfaction, pride, or knowing a secret.
褒められて、彼女はうふふと微笑んだ。
Usage Note
How to Use
うふふ
Used as a standalone interjection in dialogue, much like 'tee-hee' or 'hehe'.
うふふと + 動詞
Used as an adverb modifying verbs like laugh (笑う) or smile (微笑む).
How to Use
Common Phrases
うふふと笑う
to chuckle softly ('ufufu')
うふふと微笑む
to smile with a gentle chuckle
思わずうふふと
unintentionally giggling
うふふと誤魔化す
to cover up something with a cute laugh
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Polite/Elegant situations | positive | Common in anime/manga for elegant women ('ojousama') laughing politely. |
| Secretive/Coy | neutral | Can give a 'I know a secret' or mildly flirtatious vibe depending on the context. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
えへへ えへへ / similar | Used for an embarrassed, cheeky, or childish giggle (heh-heh). | Ehehe lacks the elegant, mature feminine nuance of ufufu. | えへへと照れ笑いする。 |
いひひ いひひ / contrast | A sneaky, mischievous, or villainous laugh (hee-hee). | Ufufu is polite and sweet, whereas ihihi sounds creepy or plotting. | いひひと悪巧みをする。 |
あはは あはは / contrast | A loud, open, uninhibited laugh (ahaha). | Ufufu is quiet and suppressed, completely opposite to a roaring laugh. | あははと大笑いする。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for a deep-voiced male character.
うふふ is strongly coded as feminine. A man using it outside of a joke might sound unnatural.
Using it for a hilarious situation.
This is a quiet, breathy laugh. If something is incredibly funny, use あはは (ahaha).
Examples
Examples
彼女は口元に手を当てて、うふふと上品に笑った。
かのじょ は くちもと に て を あてて、 うふふ と じょうひん に わらった。
She covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled politely.
LiteralDescribes a very polite, classic way of laughing often associated with women.
褒め言葉を聞いて、嬉しそうにうふふと微笑んだ。
ほめことば を きいて、 うれしそう に うふふ と ほほえんだ。
Hearing the compliment, she smiled happily with a gentle chuckle.
LiteralA gentle chuckle that accompanies a happy smile.
何か良いことがあったのか、朝からずっとうふふと笑っている。
なにか よい こと が あった の か、 あさ から ずっと うふふ と わらっている。
She must have had something good happen, as she's been giggling to herself all morning.
LiteralA little laugh showing a happy secret kept to oneself.
「うふふ、それは秘密です」と彼女はいたずらっぽく言った。
「うふふ、 それ は ひみつ です」 と かのじょ は いたずらっぽく いった。
"Tee-hee, that's a secret," she said mischievously.
LiteralUsed directly as an interjection in spoken dialogue.
メッセージの最後にウフフと付け加えた。
メッセージ の さいご に ウフフ と つけくわえた。
She added "ufufu" at the end of her message.
FigurativeKatakana can be used to emphasize the word's nuance in text messages.
Similar Words
いひひ
ihihi
A sneaky or mischievous laugh.
あはは
ahaha
A loud, open laugh.
Questions
Can men use うふふ?
Generally, no. It sounds very feminine. Men typically use えへへ (ehehe) for an embarrassed laugh, or ふふっ (fufu) for a cool/quiet laugh.
How does it differ from ふふっ (fufu)?
ふふっ is shorter, slightly less gendered, and can sound cool or mysterious. うふふ is longer and sweeter/more feminine.
Is this like 'lol'?
No, this describes the physical sound of a polite laugh in real life or dialogue, rather than internet slang.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2036150
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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