どんちゃん(さわ)

どんちゃんさわぎ
noun
boisterous revelry; noisy partying; rowdy merrymaking
1. boisterous revelry; noisy partying; rowdy merrymaking
Loud, exuberant celebration or partying, typically involving drinking, singing, and general noise. Often implies excessive or disruptive merriment.
(となり)でどんちゃん(さわ)ぎをしている。
They're having a rowdy party next door.
昨夜(さくや)はどんちゃん(さわ)ぎで(ねむ)れなかった。
I couldn't sleep last night because of the rowdy revelry.
忘年会(ぼうねんかい)(あさ)までどんちゃん(さわ)ぎをした。
We partied rowdily until morning at the year-end party.

"どんちゃん" is an onomatopoeic expression imitating the sounds of drums and cymbals (太鼓(たいこ)のドンドンと(かね)のチャンチャン), suggesting festive noise.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • どんちゃん(さわ)ぎをする — to have a rowdy party
  • どんちゃん(さわ)ぎになる — to turn into a rowdy scene

The word has a slightly negative or exasperated tone when used by someone not participating, but a fun, self-deprecating tone when used by the participants themselves.