New here? This is lesson 227 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
The noise next door in Japanese
At night in Yanaka, the television in the next apartment carries through Leo's wall. He catches Ono-san on the landing and raises the issue carefully.
She hears him out, but clearly has no time for a long conversation. The new neighbor appears before the talk can become awkward.
Practice a low-blame opening, a respectful request, and a question that invites a workable arrangement.
The goal is a quieter evening without making an enemy of the person next door.
By the end of this lesson
Raise a neighbor noise problem without blame and ask for a solution.
- 最近、夜が少し騒がしいんです。It's been a bit noisy at night lately.
- もう少し、静かにしていただけますか。Could you keep it down a little?
- 文句を言いたいわけではないんです。I'm not trying to make a fuss.
- お互い、気持ちよく過ごしたいんです。I'd like both of us to be comfortable.
- 何か、いい方法はありませんか。Is there some arrangement that could work?
- 聞いてくださって、ありがとうございます。Thank you for hearing me out.
Scene — a sound through the wall
A television murmurs through the wall of Leo's small Yanaka apartment late in the evening. On the landing, he finds Ono-san returning with a shopping bag.
She pauses, but her hand is already on the stair rail. The new neighbor opens their door before Leo can decide whether to wait.
Learn — a neighbourly request
These six B2 lines let you describe a recurring noise, soften a complaint, and invite a practical fix.
Notice how the wording leaves room for cooperation.
最近、夜が少し騒がしいんです。
It's been a bit noisy at night lately.
When to use it: Use this to describe a recent ongoing problem without naming or accusing anyone.
The んです ending presents this as background information, which can soften a complaint.
Say it: Give ん in んです a clear beat; do not swallow it.
もう少し、静かにしていただけますか。
Could you keep it down a little?
When to use it: Ask a neighbor for a small change in a respectful, direct way.
いただけますか makes the request deferential, while もう少し keeps the requested change modest.
文句を言いたいわけではないんです。
I'm not trying to make a fuss.
When to use it: Use this to reassure someone that you are not looking for an argument.
わけではない softens a denial by clarifying your intention rather than rejecting the other person.
お互い、気持ちよく過ごしたいんです。
I'd like both of us to be comfortable.
When to use it: Use this to frame a request as something that benefits both people.
お互い makes the concern mutual, helping the request sound cooperative rather than accusatory.
何か、いい方法はありませんか。
Is there some arrangement that could work?
When to use it: Ask the other person to help find a practical way forward.
ありませんか invites the other person to suggest an option instead of simply accepting blame.
聞いてくださって、ありがとうございます。
Thank you for hearing me out.
When to use it: Thank someone who has listened to a concern.
くださって is the respectful て-form of くださる and acknowledges the listener's effort.
Say it: Hold a brief beat at the small っ in くださって.
Story — on the landing
A television carries through the wall into Leo's apartment. On the landing, he begins a brief conversation with Ono-san, then speaks directly with the new neighbor.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Evening on the shared landing. Leo hears the television through the wall.
Leoこんばんは。Good evening.
Ono-sanこんばんは。Good evening.- Leo大野さん、少しご相談があるんですが。Ono-san, I have something I'd like to ask you about.
- Ono-sanはい、どうぞ。Yes, go ahead.
- Leo最近、夜が少し騒がしいんです。It's been a bit noisy at night lately.
- Ono-sanお隣のテレビですか。Is it the neighbor's television?
- Leoはい。文句を言いたいわけではないんです。Yes. I'm not trying to make a fuss.
- Ono-san glances toward the stairs, ready to be on her way. The neighbor opens their door.
- Neighborこんばんは。隣に越してきた者です。Good evening. I've just moved in next door.
- Ono-sanそうですか。ちょうどよかったですね。I see. That's good timing.
- Leoもう少し、静かにしていただけますか。Could you keep it down a little?
- Neighborテレビの音が壁越しに聞こえていましたか。すみません、気づきませんでした。Could you hear the television through the wall? I'm sorry; I hadn't noticed.
- Leoお互い、気持ちよく過ごしたいんです。I'd like both of us to be comfortable.
- Neighborそうですね。夜は音量を下げます。ほかに何かできることはありますか。That's fair. I'll lower the volume at night. Is there anything else I can do?
- Leo何か、いい方法はありませんか。Is there some arrangement that could work?
- Neighbor夜はイヤホンを使うようにします。これで様子を見てもいいですか。I'll use headphones at night. Could we try that and see how it goes?
- Leo聞いてくださって、ありがとうございます。Thank you for hearing me out.
- Ono-sanまた明日。See you tomorrow.
Practice — keep the conversation kind
Listen for the point of each phrase, then build and adjust a polite request.
The choices focus on keeping your meaning clear and the tone considerate.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Could you keep it down a little?
もう少し、____にしていただけますか。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want to reassure your neighbor that you are not looking to argue or complain for its own sake.
Build the line
Build the line
Is there some arrangement that could work?
、。
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Neighbor says:
Pick the reply
夜は音量を下げます。話してくださってありがとうございます。
I'll lower the volume at night. Thank you for bringing it up.
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
Ask your neighbor to lower the television politely; replace the less deferential request ending.
もう少し、静かにして____か。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
聞いてくださって、ありがとうございます。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Match the pairs
Japanese
最近、夜が少し騒がしいんです。Drop the English here文句を言いたいわけではないんです。Drop the English hereお互い、気持ちよく過ごしたいんです。Drop the English here何か、いい方法はありませんか。Drop the English hereEnglish
True or false?
True or false?
This is a natural brief goodbye when Leo and Ono-san expect to meet again tomorrow.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — ask without blaming
Imagine the neighbor has just opened the door on the landing. Take a calm tone and focus on explaining the problem without assigning blame.
When the cue is yours, say the line aloud; the recording is for practice, not a pronunciation score.
- Neighborこんばんは。何かありましたか。Good evening. Is something wrong?
- Leo (you)Describe the recent nighttime noise without blaming anyone.
Describe the recent nighttime noise without blaming anyone.
最近、夜が少し騒がしいんです。
It's been a bit noisy at night lately.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 最近、夜が少し騒がしいんです。 | It's been a bit noisy at night lately. | |
| もう少し、静かにしていただけますか。 | Could you keep it down a little? | |
| 文句を言いたいわけではないんです。 | I'm not trying to make a fuss. | |
| お互い、気持ちよく過ごしたいんです。 | I'd like both of us to be comfortable. | |
| 何か、いい方法はありませんか。 | Is there some arrangement that could work? | |
| 聞いてくださって、ありがとうございます。 | Thank you for hearing me out. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Save these calm, considerate phrases for a real neighborly conversation. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and practise the lines.
A quick review can help you find a tactful phrase before a small problem grows.
Open Yak Cards