How to say "noise" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 音おとnounThe general word for sound, and the usual choice when 'noise' simply means a sound you hear — a strange noise, a noise outside. It is neutral, covering any audible sound.
- 音おんnoun, noun (suffix)This is the on-reading of 音, used inside compound words rather than on its own; it is seldom the word you want for a noise. For a sound you hear, use 音（おと）.
- nounA loanword for noise in technical senses — unwanted background or signal noise such as static or interference in audio, electronics, or data. Not the word for an ordinary noise you hear.
- 騒音そうおんnounLoud, objectionable noise that disturbs people — the 'din' sense: traffic, construction, or neighbors' noise. This is the word for noise as a nuisance or problem, the kind people complain about.
- 物音ものおとnounA noise made by something — a sound you notice hearing, often small or unexpected, like a noise in the next room or outside at night.
For a noise you hear use 音; for a noise made by something, 物音; for loud, disturbing noise, 騒音; for technical background noise, 「ノイズ」; and おん appears only inside compounds, never as a standalone word.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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