How to Say ‘Um, the music is a little loud...’ in Japanese
あの、音楽の音が少し大きくて…
ano ongaku no oto ga sukoshi ookiku te
[ah-NOH ohn-GAH-koo noh oh-TOH ga soo-koh-shee oh-KEE-koo teh]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Trailing off without saying "please stop" is the polite move. The neighbor is expected to fill in the request themselves, which lets both sides avoid a direct complaint.
Phrase Breakdown
あの、音楽の音が
ano ongaku no oto ga
um, the sound of the music
あの (ano) is a hesitant 'um' that makes a request sound gentle. が (ga) marks the music as the subject.
あの、テレビの音が聞こえます。
Um, I can hear the TV.
Words in this phrase
あの
ano
[ah-NOH]
um; excuse me
A hesitation word used to get someone's attention politely or to soften a question.
あのう、すみません。
Um, excuse me.
音楽
ongaku
[ohn-GAH-koo]
music
A noun for music in general, songs or instrumental sound.
音楽を聞きます。
I listen to music.
の
no
[noh]
of; linking particle
Links two nouns to make “after meals”: ごはんのあと.
ごはんのあとにお薬を飲みます。
I take medicine after meals.
音
oto
[oh-TOH]
sound
A noun for a sound or noise, here the volume of the music.
音が聞こえます。
I can hear a sound.
が
ga
[ga]
subject marker
A particle marking the subject of the sentence.
興味がある分野を教えてください。
Please tell me the field you are interested in.
少し大きくて…
sukoshi ookiku te
is a little loud, so…
Stopping mid-sentence politely hints at the problem without saying it directly. Hold the long 'oo' in ookikute.
声が少し大きくて…
Your voice is a little loud, so…
Words in this phrase
少し
sukoshi
[soo-koh-shee]
a little; a bit
少し（すこし） means “a little.” Useful to describe mild pain, slight nausea, a small amount of fever, etc.
おなかが少し痛いです。
My stomach hurts a little.
大きく
ookiku
[oh-KEE-koo]
loud; big (adverbial/te-stem)
Stem form of 大きい (big, loud) used before て to give a reason.
声が大きくて驚いた。
The voice was loud and I was surprised.
て
te
[teh]
and; -te form
A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.
仕事を探している人と話しました。
I spoke with a person who is looking for work.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Lessons for Your Situation
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“I hop cities every few months and this is the only app that actually prepares me for living somewhere, not just visiting. Tokyo was the real test — passed with flying colors.”
James O., 28, Remote Worker
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager