Both words can describe irritating noise, but their tone and range differ.
The idea
うるさい is the everyday, broadly useful word for noise or annoyance. やかましい also describes noisy sounds or people, often with a more emphatic, expressive tone. Both are い-adjectives: うるさく and やかましく modify verbs.
Examples
- 隣の音楽がうるさいです。The music next door is noisy.
- 駅の前の通りはうるさいです。The street in front of the station is noisy.
- 子どもたちの声がやかましくて、ニュースが聞こえません。The children’s voices are so noisy that I cannot hear the news.
- 工事の音がやかましくて、眠れませんでした。The construction noise was loud and kept me awake.
- 時計の音をうるさく感じます。I find the sound of the clock irritating.
- ここでは静かにしてください。Please be quiet here.
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Watch out
Neither word measures volume objectively, and the difference is not absolute: context and delivery matter. Saying either directly to a person can sound rude; use 静かにしてください for a more polite request.
Try it yourself
（日常の一般的な言い方）隣の音楽が＿＿です。（うるさい／やかましい）
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うるさい
うるさい is the broad everyday choice for an annoying sound.
（強い調子で）工事の音が＿＿です。（やかましい／静か）
Show answer or example answer
やかましい
やかましい gives the complaint an emphatic, expressive tone; うるさい could also describe the noise.
時計の音を＿＿感じます。（うるさい／うるさく）
Show answer or example answer
うるさく
うるさく is the adverbial form before 感じます.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
（日常の一般的な言い方）隣の音楽が＿＿です。（うるさい／やかましい）
（強い調子で）工事の音が＿＿です。（やかましい／静か）
時計の音を＿＿感じます。（うるさい／うるさく）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a noisy street, then ask someone politely to be quiet.