耳障(みみざわ)り

みみざわり
noun, na-adjective
unpleasant to hear; grating; offensive to the ear
1. unpleasant to hear; grating; offensive to the ear
Something that is annoying or unpleasant to listen to, whether a sound, words, or manner of speaking.
耳障(みみざわ)りな音(おと)がする。
There's a grating sound.
隣(となり)の部屋(へや)の音楽(おんがく)が耳障(みみざわ)りだ。
The music from the next room is annoying.
彼(かれ)の自慢話(じまんばなし)は聞(き)いていて耳障(みみざわ)りで、周(まわ)りの人(ひと)もうんざりしていた。
His boasting was grating to listen to, and the people around him were fed up too.

Functions as both a noun and a な-adjective. Composed of 耳(みみ) (ear) + 障(さわ)り (hindrance, offense). Describes sounds, voices, or speech that are irritating or offensive.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 耳障(みみざわ)りな音(おと): grating noise
  • 耳障(みみざわ)りな声(こえ): unpleasant voice
  • 耳障(みみざわ)りな言葉(ことば): offensive words
  • 耳障(みみざわ)りに感(かん)じる: to find something grating

USAGE:
Note the difference between 耳障(みみざわ)り (unpleasant to hear, always negative) and 耳触(みみざわ)り (how something sounds, can be neutral or positive — as in 耳触(みみざわ)りがいい). However, in modern usage these are sometimes confused.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • うるさい: noisy, annoying — more everyday and direct
  • 目障(めざわ)り: eyesore — the visual equivalent
  • 不快(ふかい)な: unpleasant — broader, not limited to hearing
general
Added 2026.3.29 2:12
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