How to Say Shut Up in Japanese
Learn how to say shut up in Japanese: うるさい (urusai) means 'noisy/shut up', 黙れ (damare) is a blunt command. Pronunciation, politeness levels and how rude each is.
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Quick answer
The most common way to say 'shut up' in Japanese is うるさい (urusai, oo-roo-SAH-ee), literally 'noisy/annoying'. A blunter, ruder command is 黙れ (damare, dah-MAH-reh) — 'be quiet / shut it'. Both are impolite; in real situations the polite '静かにしてください' (shizuka ni shite kudasai) is the safe way to ask for quiet.
うるさい
/oo-roo-SAH-ee/ — Japanese
How to Say Shut Up in Japanese
“Shut up” has several Japanese equivalents that differ sharply in rudeness. Knowing which is mild teasing and which is a genuine insult matters — using the wrong one can be far more offensive than you intend.
The Common Phrase
うるさい — pronounced oo-roo-SAH-ee (casual, rude)
Literally “noisy/annoying”, barked at a person it means “shut up!”. It’s the version you’ll hear most in everyday speech, anime and arguments.
Copy the Phrase
The casual Japanese word for “shut up” is うるさい (urusai, oo-roo-SAH-ee).
Levels of Bluntness
| Japanese | Romaji | Pronunciation | Force |
|---|---|---|---|
| 静かにしてください | shizuka ni shite kudasai | shee-zoo-kah nee shtay koo-dah-sah-ee | Polite “please be quiet” |
| うるさい | urusai | oo-roo-SAH-ee | Casual “shut up” (noisy/annoying) |
| うるさいよ | urusai yo | oo-roo-SAH-ee yoh | ”You’re being loud” (softer, exasperated) |
| 黙って | damatte | dah-MAHT-teh | ”Be quiet” (casual command) |
| 黙れ | damare | dah-MAH-reh | ”Shut it” — blunt, harsh |
| うっせー / うるせー | ussee / urusee | oo-SSEH / oo-roo-SEH | Gruff slang, very rude |
Urusai vs. Damare
The key difference: うるさい describes a state (“you are noisy → shut up”), while 黙れ is a direct order from the verb 黙る (damaru, “to fall silent”). Damare therefore feels more aggressive and confrontational — it’s the kind of line you’d hear in a heated fight or a movie villain. Urusai, by contrast, is everyday irritation and can even be playful between close friends.
Softer and Politer Options
In real life you almost never need a rude version. To ask for quiet without offence:
- 静かにしてください (shizuka ni shite kudasai) — “Please be quiet.”
- 少し静かにしてもらえますか (sukoshi shizuka ni shite moraemasu ka) — “Could you be a bit quieter?”
- 声を抑えてください (koe wo osaete kudasai) — “Please lower your voice.”
These are appropriate in a library, on a train, at work, or with anyone you don’t know well.
Pronunciation Tips
- うるさい — u-ru-sa-i; the final “ai” blends into an “eye” sound.
- 黙れ — dah-MAH-reh; three clear beats, command-form verbs end in -e.
- The slang うっせー (ussee) uses a glottal stop (the small っ) — hold a tiny pause before “se”.
A Register Note
Be careful: tone and relationship decide everything here. A teenager snapping うるさい at a sibling is normal sibling friction; the same word spat at a stranger or a superior is a serious affront, and 黙れ to anyone outside a fight is genuinely hostile. As a learner, it’s worth recognising these phrases so you understand them, but default to the polite 静かにしてください whenever you actually need someone to quiet down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say shut up in Japanese?
The everyday version is うるさい (urusai, oo-roo-SAH-ee), which literally means 'noisy' or 'annoying' but is used to mean 'shut up!'. A harsher direct command is 黙れ (damare, dah-MAH-reh), 'be quiet / shut it'. Both are rude — for a polite request use 静かにしてください (shizuka ni shite kudasai), 'please be quiet'.
How do you pronounce urusai?
うるさい is pronounced oo-roo-SAH-ee, four beats: u-ru-sa-i. The 'ai' at the end is two vowels run together, like the word 'eye'. When shouted in anger it's often clipped to うっせー (ussee) or うるせー (urusee) — slangy, gruff and quite rude.
What is the difference between urusai and damare?
うるさい (urusai) literally calls something or someone 'noisy/annoying' and is the casual 'shut up'. 黙れ (damare) is the command form of the verb 黙る (damaru, 'to be silent'), so it directly orders 'be quiet / shut up' and feels harsher and more confrontational. Damare is the blunter, more aggressive of the two.
What does urusai literally mean?
うるさい is an adjective meaning 'noisy', 'loud', 'annoying' or 'fussy'. Saying it sharply at a person implies 'you're being noisy — shut up'. It can also describe a picky person, e.g. 味にうるさい (aji ni urusai) means 'fussy about taste / a foodie', which is not an insult at all.
How do you politely ask someone to be quiet in Japanese?
Use 静かにしてください (shizuka ni shite kudasai, shee-zoo-kah nee shtay koo-dah-sah-ee) — 'please be quiet'. Softer still is 少し声を抑えていただけますか (sukoshi koe wo osaete itadakemasu ka), 'could you lower your voice a little?'. These are the appropriate phrases in public, at work, or with anyone you respect.