Hello, I’m Kodak.
If you watch Japanese livestreams, read comments on social media, or browse anime and gaming communities, you may see messages filled with w, www, or the kanji 草.
Although 草 (kusa) literally means “grass,” online it usually expresses laughter, much like “lol” or “lmao” in English.
w ⇒ lol / haha
www ⇒ hahaha / lololol
草 (kusa) ⇒ lol / that’s funny
草生える (kusa haeru) ⇒ that makes me laugh / grass is growing
大草原不可避 (daisōgen fukahi) ⇒ unavoidable huge laughter / lmao
Today’s Japanese internet slang is “www” and 草 (kusa)!
The evolution is:
笑い (warai: laughter)
↓
w
↓
wwwww
↓
草 (grass)
A row of w characters looks like blades of grass, so Japanese internet users began calling it 草.
What Does “www” Mean in Japanese?
In Japanese internet slang, w represents laughter. It comes from the first letter of 笑う (warau), meaning “to laugh,” or 笑い (warai), meaning “laughter.”
⇒ lol
⇒ haha
⇒ funny
wwww
⇒ hahaha
⇒ lololol
⇒ very funny
それは無理だろw
Sore wa muri daro w.
There’s no way that’ll work, lol.
また同じミスしてるwww
Mata onaji misu shiteru www.
He made the same mistake again, hahaha.
Why Does “w” Mean Laughter in Japanese?
The letter w is generally understood as an abbreviation of warai or warau.
（笑）
A written note meaning “laughter”
↓
笑 / warai
A shortened or romanized form
↓
w
The first letter of warai / warau
↓
wwwww
Repeated w shows stronger or continuing laughter
One w often suggests a light laugh. Repeating it can show stronger amusement, although there is no fixed mathematical scale.
What Does 草 (Kusa) Mean in Japanese Slang?
草 (kusa) literally means grass. In online slang, it means something like “lol,” “that’s funny,” or “I’m laughing.”
Hiragana: くさ
Romaji: kusa
Literal meaning: grass / weed
Internet slang meaning: lol / funny / laughter
その言い訳は草。
Sono iiwake wa kusa.
That excuse is hilarious.
開始一分で負けてて草。
Kaishi ippun de maketete kusa.
He lost within one minute, lol.
名前からもう草。
Namae kara mō kusa.
Even the name is already funny.
草 is read くさ (kusa). However, when people see it in a comment, they often process it simply as an internet laughter marker rather than mentally saying “grass.”
Why Does Grass Mean “LOL” in Japanese?
The slang meaning developed from the visual appearance of repeated w characters.
↓
The repeated letters look like grass growing across the screen
↓
People began describing the row of w’s as 草
↓
Eventually, the single kanji 草 itself came to mean laughter
w comes from warai, and a row of w looks like grass.
www vs 草: What Is the Difference?
Both express laughter, but their style and grammar differ slightly.
| Expression | Meaning | Typical use | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| w | lol / haha | Added to the end of a sentence | Light, casual laughter |
| www | hahaha / lololol | Added after a funny statement | Stronger or extended laughter |
| 草 | lol / that’s funny | Used alone or as part of a sentence | More like a slang noun or reaction |
| 笑 | lol / laugh | Messages and social media | Softer and easier for general readers |
| （笑） | laughs / lol | Interviews, messages, casual writing | Older, clearer, sometimes gentler |
That’s funny, lol.
⇒ w is attached to the sentence.
それ面白いwww
That’s really funny, hahaha.
⇒ Repetition emphasizes laughter.
その発想は草。
That idea is hilarious.
⇒ 草 works as the reaction itself.
How to Use 草 in Japanese
1. Using 草 by Itself
A single 草 can function as a short reaction.
A: 寝坊して、パジャマのまま会議に出た。
Nebō shite, pajama no mama kaigi ni deta.
I overslept and joined the meeting in my pajamas.B: 草
Lol.
2. ～で草: “It’s Funny That…”
～で草 is extremely common. The clause before で gives the reason for the laughter.
本人だけ何も知らなくて草。
Honnin dake nani mo shiranakute kusa.
It’s hilarious that he’s the only one who knows nothing.
急に敬語になってて草。
Kyū ni keigo ni nattete kusa.
Lol, he suddenly started speaking politely.
3. ～は草: “That Is Hilarious”
そのタイトルは草。
Sono taitoru wa kusa.
That title is hilarious.
4. 草生える: “That Makes Me Laugh”
草生える (kusa haeru) literally means “grass grows.” In slang, it means that something causes laughter.
その展開は草生える。
Sono tenkai wa kusa haeru.
That plot development is hilarious.
In more grammatically complete Japanese, you may also see 草が生える, but slang often omits the particle が.
5. 草生えた: “That Made Me Laugh”
最後の一言で草生えた。
Saigo no hitokoto de kusa haeta.
That last comment made me laugh.
Related Grass Slang
大草原 (Daisōgen): A Huge Field of Grass
大草原 literally means a great grassland or prairie. Online, it represents a huge amount of laughter—more grass than a simple 草.
コメント欄が大草原。
Komento-ran ga daisōgen.
The comment section is one giant field of laughter.
大草原不可避 (Daisōgen Fukahi)
大草原不可避 literally means “a great grassland is unavoidable.” It humorously suggests that the situation is so funny that massive laughter cannot be prevented.
草原 (sōgen) — grassland / prairie
不可避 (fukahi) — unavoidable
大草原不可避
⇒ A huge field of laughter is unavoidable
⇒ lmao / I can’t stop laughing
草不可避 (Kusa Fukahi)
A shorter variation meaning “laughter is unavoidable.”
この編集は草不可避。
Kono henshū wa kusa fukahi.
This editing is impossible not to laugh at.
草も生えない (Kusa mo Haenai)
Literally, “not even grass grows.” This can mean that something is so bad, depressing, awkward, or unfunny that nobody can laugh.
三時間のデータが全部消えて、草も生えない。
San-jikan no dēta ga zenbu kiete, kusa mo haenai.
Three hours of data disappeared. I can’t even laugh about it.
Is 草 Positive, Negative, or Rude?
草 can express friendly laughter, but it can also sound mocking.
Laughing with a close friend about a shared joke
Teasing:
Pointing out a funny mistake
Ironic:
Reacting to something absurd or contradictory
Mocking:
Laughing at someone’s failure, appearance, opinion, or embarrassment
その写真かわいくて草。
That photo is so cute it made me laugh.
⇒ Can sound affectionate between friends.
また失敗してて草。
He failed again, lol.
⇒ Can sound like ridicule, especially if sent directly to the person.
When Should You Avoid www and 草?
These expressions are strongly casual. Avoid them in formal emails, job applications, customer communication, academic writing, and serious apologies.
・casual chats with friends
・gaming communities
・livestream comments
・meme posts
・informal social media
・anime and manga fan communities
Usually unsuitable:
・business emails
・messages to customers
・formal school assignments
・serious discussions
・condolences
・apologies
・messages where laughter may humiliate someone
笑, （笑）, w, www, and 草: Which Should You Use?
Clear and relatively mild. Can feel slightly old-fashioned or editorial depending on the context.
笑
Common and readable. Often softer than 草.
w
Very casual internet laughter. Easy to attach to the end of a sentence.
www
Stronger, extended, or exaggerated laughter.
草
Meme-like, playful, ironic, or mocking internet slang.
For learners, 笑 is usually the safest casual option because it is easy to understand and less strongly tied to a specific internet subculture.
Common Examples from Japanese Social Media and Gaming
That’s hilarious.
普通に草。
That’s honestly funny.
意味不明で草。
It makes no sense, lol.
急に歌い出すの草。
Lol, he suddenly started singing.
コメント欄www
This comment section, hahaha.
自分で言うなw
Don’t say that about yourself, lol.
そこで負けるのは草生える。
Losing right there is hilarious.
こんなの大草原不可避。
This is absolutely hilarious.
笑えなさすぎて草も生えない。
It’s so unfunny / awful that I can’t even laugh.
Anime, Manga, and Livestream Usage
w and 草 are primarily written internet expressions. You are more likely to see them in:
- video comments appearing across a livestream
- in-game chat
- social media replies
- message screenshots shown in anime or manga
- characters imitating internet speech
- subtitles or fan translations explaining online reactions
When spoken aloud, Japanese speakers may say くさ, 草生える, or even 大草原 jokingly. However, this sounds deliberately internet-like rather than neutral everyday Japanese.
Common Mistakes with www and 草
Mistake 1: Thinking www Means the World Wide Web
In a Japanese casual comment, www usually represents laughter. In a website address or technical context, it still means World Wide Web.
⇒ World Wide Web / website address
また寝坊したwww
⇒ I overslept again, hahaha
Mistake 2: Translating 草 Literally as “Grass”
When 草 appears after a funny statement online, it usually does not refer to a plant.
その顔は草。
Not: That face is grass.
Natural meaning: That face is hilarious.
Mistake 3: Using 草 in Formal Messages
Even when the message is friendly, using 草 with a boss, customer, or teacher may sound careless or mocking.
Mistake 4: Assuming Laughter Is Always Friendly
w and 草 can intensify sarcasm or ridicule. Be especially careful when commenting on mistakes, appearance, language ability, or personal problems.
Mistake 5: Writing “kusa” in Roman Letters to Japanese Users
Japanese users normally write the kanji 草. The spelling kusa is mainly used in English-language explanations or communities where Japanese input is unavailable.
FAQ About www, Kusa, and Grass Slang
What does www mean in Japanese?
In Japanese internet slang, www expresses laughter, similar to “hahaha” or “lololol.” The letter w comes from warai or warau, meaning laughter or to laugh.
What does w mean in Japanese texting?
A single w usually means “lol,” “haha,” or indicates that a message is playful or funny.
What does kusa mean in Japanese?
草 (kusa) literally means grass. In internet slang, it means “lol,” “that’s funny,” or laughter.
Why does grass mean lol in Japanese?
Repeated w characters resemble blades of grass. Because w already represented laughter, rows of w became known as 草, and eventually the kanji itself became a laughter marker.
How do you pronounce 草?
In this usage, 草 is read くさ (kusa).
What does 草生える mean?
草生える literally means “grass grows.” As slang, it means “that makes me laugh” or “that is hilarious.”
What does 大草原不可避 mean?
It literally means “a great grassland is unavoidable.” It is an exaggerated meme expression for something extremely funny, similar to “lmao.”
Is 草 rude?
Not automatically, but it can sound mocking depending on the situation. Avoid it when laughing might embarrass or insult someone.
Can I say kusa aloud?
Yes, but it sounds intentionally internet-like or meme-like. It is most natural among friends familiar with online slang.
What is the difference between 笑 and 草?
Both can express laughter. 笑 is broader and often softer, while 草 feels more like internet or meme slang and may carry irony or mockery.
Is www still used in Japanese?
Yes. It remains widely recognizable in casual online communication, although different platforms and communities may prefer 笑, emojis, or 草.
Summary: What Do www and 草 Mean in Japanese?
A Japanese internet laughter marker derived from warai / warau.
● 草 (kusa)
Literally “grass,” but online it means “lol” or “that’s funny.”
● Why grass?
A row of w characters looks like blades of grass growing across the screen.
● 草生える
“That makes me laugh” or “grass is growing.”
● 大草原不可避
An exaggerated “this is extremely funny” or “lmao.”
● Important nuance
These expressions can show friendly laughter, but they can also sound ironic or mocking.
● Best usage
Use them in casual chats, gaming, livestreams, memes, and informal social media—not in formal communication.
Remember the flow:
warai
↓
w
↓
wwwww
↓
grass
↓
草
Once you understand this visual evolution, Japanese internet laughter becomes much easier to recognize!
References
- Kanjipedia: 草 — standard readings and literal meanings of the kanji.
- Kotobank: 草 — dictionary meanings of 草.
- Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Fuji Note: 若者言葉「草」とは？ — explanation of the slang meaning and its development from repeated w.
- Cuemotto: なんで草って使うの？笑いの表現のあれこれ — overview of the development from （笑） to w and 草.
- Moovoo: 「草」とはどういう意味？ — usage, 草生える, and the possibility of irony or ridicule.