Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

やかましい Japanese meaning | Kotomora

やかましい

や

か

ま

し

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

noisy; loud; clamorous

usually written using kana alone

Describes sounds, voices, or environments that are annoyingly loud or boisterous.

隣となりの部屋へやがやかましくて眠ねむれない。
The next room is so noisy I can't sleep.

子こ供どもたちがやかましく遊あそんでいる。

The children are playing noisily.

2

i-adjective

much talked of; controversial; vexed

usually written using kana alone

Used for topics, issues, or problems that attract a lot of public discussion or criticism.

その事じ件けんは世せ間けんでやかましく言いわれている。
That incident is being much talked about in society.
やかましい問もん題だいになってきた。
It has become a controversial issue.

3

i-adjective

strict; severe; stern

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person, rule, or demand that is rigidly enforced or harshly critical.

彼かれは時じ間かんにやかましい。
He is strict about time.
あの先せん生せいは服ふく装そうにやかましい。
That teacher is strict about dress.

4

i-adjective

fussy; particular; fastidious

usually written using kana alone

Describes someone who is hard to please, overly critical, or picky about details.

彼かれは食たべ物ものにやかましい。
He is fussy about food.
味あじにやかましい人ひとにはこの店みせはおすすめできない。
I can't recommend this restaurant to people who are particular about taste.

Written forms

やかましいUsage95%
The word is usually written in kana. The kanji form 喧しい exists but is less common.
喧やかましいUsage4%
Kanji form; less common than kana. The character 喧 means 'noisy' or 'boisterous'.
八や釜かましいUsage1%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)search-only kanji form
Ateji spelling; not used in modern writing. Included for search purposes only.

Kanji

喧noisy, boisterous
八eight, eight radical (no. 12)
釜kettle, cauldron, iron pot

Similar words

うるさい
うるさい also means 'noisy' or 'annoying', but is more common in everyday speech. やかましい can sound more emphatic or old-fashioned, and has additional meanings like 'strict' or 'fussy' that うるさい lacks.
騒さわがしい
騒がしい means 'noisy' or 'boisterous' but focuses on the lively, bustling aspect rather than the annoying quality. やかましい often implies irritation.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the mimetic word やかま (yakama) expressing noise or clamor, with the adjectival suffix しい. The kanji 喧 means 'noisy' or 'quarrel' and is used for its meaning, not phonetically.