How to say "noisy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- i-adjectiveThe everyday word for a loud, irritating noise: 'the neighbors are noisy', 'this fan is noisy'. It is what most learners want for 'noisy', and it is also commonly used to tell someone to be quiet.
- 騒がしいさわがしいi-adjectiveCovers noisy in the sense of boisterous, bustling commotion—a lively crowd, a clamorous place. It describes an atmosphere of stirring noise rather than a single irritating sound, so it suits scenes and environments.
- i-adjectiveA forceful word for loud, clamorous noise, close in sense to うるさい but stronger and more gruff. It also has the sense of being fussy or demanding about details, which goes beyond 'noisy'.
- i-adjectiveColloquial slang whose primary sense is annoying; 'noisy' is secondary, as in telling a pestering person to shut up. Rarely the word you want for describing literal noise; use うるさい instead.シンジってうざくねぇ？うぜーよね。↗Isn't Shinji a pain? He is, isn't he?
- 騒然そうぜんtaru-adjective, adverb (with と)Describes a state of uproar or confused commotion—a room or situation turned noisy and unsettled, such as after startling news breaks. It is about the upheaval of a scene, not a loud sound you would casually mention.
「うるさい」 is the default for loud noise; 「騒がしい」 suggests boisterous commotion; 「やかましい」 is a forceful variant; 「ウザイ」 is colloquial and more 'annoying'; 騒然 describes uproarious confusion in scenes or situations.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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