The meaning, usage and cultural significance of the word [苦]{く}[笑]{しょう}


I've looked in many dictionaries, but I can't fully grasp how the word
`[苦]{く}[笑]{しょう}` is used. I've seen it in dictionaries as being a kind of
"embarrassed laugh". It appears to be used to deprecate the speaker and others
or point out ridiculousness, but I see it used in all sorts of ways that may
amount to a kind sarcasm.

Can this word amount to a form of sarcasm, and what is the cultural
significance of this word? Is it used in different ways by men vs women? Is it
primarily used in the written language, or is it also spoken in conversation?

Also, what's the difference between `[苦]{にが}[笑]{わら}い` and `苦笑`?

Some examples of it being used:

>   1. 急{きゅう}に厳{きび}しくなってきた (苦笑)  
>  
>
>   2. お迎{むか}え待{ま}ち中{ちゅう} (苦笑)  
>  
>
>   3. 外{がい}部{ぶ}被{ひ}曝{ばく}受{う}けてきました (苦笑)
>




> Can this word amount to a form of sarcasm?

Yep. Here is a typical use
[「中国製2万円ガイガーカウンターの“高性能”に専門家苦笑」](http://www.iza.ne.jp/news/newsarticle/world/china/515144/).
Here is an example in spoken language:

> A: これで年金は100年安心なんだってさ  
>  B: ほんと苦笑{にがわら}いするしかないなぁ

Usually in spoken language, you pronounce it as にがわらい probably because it's
harder to misunderstand, but the internet abbreviation ((苦笑)) is usually
pronounced くしょう. In written language, both にがわらい and くしょう is common. Both have
identical meanings unless you are a novelist or something ;). It is commonly
used in both written/spoken language.

Women may less frequently use 苦笑 in a way that mocks other people, but this is
secondary to a general tendency (due to women being socially expected to be
less aggressive) and is not specific to this word. I think it's fair to say
both gender use it in the same way.

Social significance... Personally I think 苦笑 is a very "Japanese" word. There
is also an extremely common emoticon `(^^;)` or also `（汗）` which can be used
(almost) interchangeably with 苦笑. As you can see, it depicts a person smiling,
but sweating at the same time. According to [this undergraduate
paper](http://www.page.sannet.ne.jp/gucci/seminar/soturon.pdf), these kind of
emoticon is second most frequently used (most frequent being the simple
"smiling" emoticon). So it definitely appears to be a very important emotion
in the Japanese language. I myself use this emoticon a lot. Yet when I think
about it I can't think of a good parallel in US, Germany. It could be an
interesting study.

I think Flaw is onto something with his/her analysis, although I don't think
the _primarily, intended_ meaning is "smile to appear within social norms".
Perhaps it's more accurate to say that this word is _used_ to appear within
social norms.




> Can this word amount to a form of sarcasm?

Yep. Here is a typical use
[「中国製2万円ガイガーカウンターの“高性能”に専門家苦笑」](http://www.iza.ne.jp/news/newsarticle/world/china/515144/).
Here is an example in spoken language:

> A: これで年金は100年安心なんだってさ  
>  B: ほんと苦笑{にがわら}いするしかないなぁ

Usually in spoken language, you pronounce it as にがわらい probably because it's
harder to misunderstand, but the internet abbreviation ((苦笑)) is usually
pronounced くしょう. In written language, both にがわらい and くしょう is common. Both have
identical meanings unless you are a novelist or something ;). It is commonly
used in both written/spoken language.

Women may less frequently use 苦笑 in a way that mocks other people, but this is
secondary to a general tendency (due to women being socially expected to be
less aggressive) and is not specific to this word. I think it's fair to say
both gender use it in the same way.

Social significance... Personally I think 苦笑 is a very "Japanese" word. There
is also an extremely common emoticon `(^^;)` or also `（汗）` which can be used
(almost) interchangeably with 苦笑. As you can see, it depicts a person smiling,
but sweating at the same time. According to [this undergraduate
paper](http://www.page.sannet.ne.jp/gucci/seminar/soturon.pdf), these kind of
emoticon is second most frequently used (most frequent being the simple
"smiling" emoticon). So it definitely appears to be a very important emotion
in the Japanese language. I myself use this emoticon a lot. Yet when I think
about it I can't think of a good parallel in US, Germany. It could be an
interesting study.

I think Flaw is onto something with his/her analysis, although I don't think
the _primarily, intended_ meaning is "smile to appear within social norms".
Perhaps it's more accurate to say that this word is _used_ to appear within
social norms.

