いつも笑う

You can use this phrase to describe a person's character. Just place the person's name before it. For example, 田中さんはいつも笑う means "Tanaka-san always laughs." If you want to describe someone as a "person who always laughs," you say いつも笑う人. It is very flexible and works as a compliment. You can also use it to describe yourself if you are feeling proud of your positivity.

Use this when you are introducing a friend to someone else. It helps set a friendly tone for the meeting. It is great for writing in a birthday card or a thank-you note. You might also use it when reminiscing about a happy memory. If you see a baby giggling at everything, this is the perfect phrase. It works well in casual chats over coffee or in a relaxed workplace.

Avoid using this phrase if someone is laughing at an inappropriate time. If someone is mocking another person, いつも笑う sounds too positive. Do not use it if you mean someone is "smirking" or being sarcastic. Also, be careful in very stiff, formal business settings. In those cases, you might want to use the more polite いつも笑顔です. Using the dictionary form 笑う can sound a bit too blunt in a board meeting.

In Japan, a smiling face or 笑顔 (egao) is highly valued. It is seen as a sign of social harmony and emotional maturity. Even if things are tough, keeping a smile is respected. There is a famous proverb: 笑う門には福来る (Luck comes to those who smile). By saying someone いつも笑う, you are essentially saying they are a lucky, high-quality person. It is one of the best compliments you can give in Japanese culture.

The most common variation is いつも笑っている. This version emphasizes that the person is *currently* or *habitually* in a state of laughing. You will also hear いつもニコニコしている, which specifically means "always smiling brightly." If you want to be more formal, use いつも笑います or いつも笑顔です. For a very casual vibe, you can just say よく笑うね to a friend. This means "You laugh a lot, don't you?"