ほ
　
く
　
そ
え
笑
　
む

Godan verb, intransitive verb

  1. to chuckle to oneself, to gloat (over).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
　
ほ
　
く
　
そ
え
笑
　
む
 ほくそ笑む ほくそえむ
ほく
北
そ
叟
え
笑
　
む
 北叟笑む ほくそえむ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

laugh
わら.う　え.む　ショウ (4th, N3)
bamboo
たけ　チク　たか (1st, N2)
individual(個) variant
knife, wrapping enclosure(勹) variant
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
early death, calamity
ヨウ　オウ　カ (Kentei 1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
large, big
ダイ　おお-　た (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)