Last updated on October 14th, 2026 at 04:46 pm
How to Say Shut Up in Japanese 10 Polite or Firm Phases
Letâs be honest â weâve all wanted to say it at one point or another. Saying âshut upâ to someone is never a phrase we would like to be uttering, but sometimes it is necessary!
Â
For all those wanting to move and study in Japan, there may be occasions when youâd like to have the linguistic flexibility to tell someone to âshut upâ. Of course, you may also like to know how to jokingly tell your friends or acquaintances the same thing.Â
Â
So, for those wanting to shut down a conversation, or those simply wishing to expand their Japanese vocabulary, this handy guide will teach you 10 different ways to say âshut upâ in Japanese, ranging from polite to firm tones.
Â
Weâve also included a guide to when you would be likely to use the phrase in question, so as not to lead you into any uncomfortable situations. After all, with words as explosive as âshut upâ, you want to be sure you are using them in the right context.Â
Â
So, without further ado, letâs explore how to say âshut upâ in Japan!
10+ ways to say âshut upâ in Japanese
1. éãã«ããŠãã ãã (shizuka ni shite kudasai) â âPlease Be Quietâ
First on our list of ways to say âshut upâ in Japanese is the phrase éãã«ããŠãã ãã (shizuka ni shite kudasai), which in English means âplease be quietâ.Â
Typically, this is a fairly polite way to ask someone to tone down the volume. It is not overly aggressive, yet it conveys a sense of firmness â the speaker usually is referring to the fact that the other person is being too loud in the context of their surroundings.Â
Common situations where this phrase may be used include in libraries, museums or in other generally quiet places.Â
It can be used in various situations, such as when youâre in a library, museum, or during a performance. For example, if someone is talking loudly on their phone in a library, you can use this phrase to politely ask them to be quiet.
2. ãéãã« (o-shizuka ni) â âQuiet Pleaseâ
Similar to the previous phrase, âO-shizuka niâ, or âquiet pleaseâ in English, is also a relatively polite way of saying shut up in Japanese. Just like its English usage, it conveys a formal sense of the need to be silent at a particular point.Â
You may hear this, for example, said on public transportation, if there is a need to make a general announcement about keeping noise levels low. This may be used by flight attendants to remind customers to be quiet while an important safety announcement is made.
While this is a polite way of telling someone to quieten down, itâs not necessarily something that you would use in the company of close friends or acquaintances.
On the subject of things youâd say in the company of close friends, check out our guide to 21+ ways to say âI love youâ in Japanese. It may help you to make amends with them after youâve told them to shut up!
3. é»ã£ãŠ (damatte) â âBe QuietâÂ
Weâve all been there â youâre trying to get into the zone and finish something important, but you canât concentrate fully due to another person being too distracting. If this situation occurs to you in Japan, you can use the phrase é»ã£ãŠ, which means âdamatteâ.
This is a direct, but still casual, way of telling someone to shut up, meaning itâs perfect for those situations when you want to be clear, but donât want a confrontation. As mentioned, you may use this in libraries or in cinemas, if someone is being too loud during the showing of a film.Â
So, itâs a pretty versatile choice that you can use around friends and family as well as members of the general public. Itâs certainly one that you should keep in mind for when the situation arises.
4. é»ã (damare) â âShut upâ
If youâre after a little more forceful way to tell someone to shut up in Japanese, é»ã (âdamareâ) is the word for you. Itâs worth bearing in mind this is a pretty nuclear option and could be considered rude or disrespectful. So, use with caution.Â
Usually, this phrase is only reserved for scenarios that involve confrontation. Perhaps, this might be when a person is saying something offensive, or causing a disturbance, causing the need for them to be reprimanded.Â
âDamareâ should not be employed in situations where you are trying to be polite, or light-hearted. Typically, it is only used as a last resort, when all other options have been exhausted.Â
5. ãããã (urusai) â âShut upâ / âYouâre noisyâ
Just as âdamareâ is a phrase that youâd want to use in only select circumstances, ãããã, or âurusaiâ, is another word youâd only employ sparingly. It is a common and direct way of telling someone that theyâre being too noisy.
You may, for example, use this phrase if you were telling a sibling that they are being too loud. However, for people that you arenât so comfortable with, âurusaiâ will typically only be reserved for cases of particular offence or disturbance.Â
As with all ways of telling people to shut up in Japan, it is important to consider using âurusaiâ in the context of the situation in which it is used. With such a direct statement, saying it in the wrong place at the wrong time could have unfortunate consequences.Â
6. å£ãã€ãã㧠(kuchi o tsugunde) â âZip your lipsâ
On a more light-hearted note, å£ãã€ãã㧠(âkuchi o tsugundeâ) is one way you can tell friends and family shut up without coming across too directly. In English, it literally translates as âzip your lipsâ.
For example, if one of your friends or family is playfully joking with you, and they are perhaps getting on your nerves, you can fire back at them with this. Itâs often a nice way to show that you are playing along, and are not getting too offended.Â
However, although you would use this quite often around people you know well, itâs not likely to be something you use around more casual acquaintances, or strangers.Â
7. èšã£ãŠãããšããã ããªã (itteru koto ga kudaranai) â âWhat youâre saying is nonsenseâ
èšã£ãŠãããšããã ããªã, or âitteru koto ga kudaranaiâ, is another one of the top ways to say shut up in Japanese. This best translates in English to âwhat youâre saying is nonsenseâ, and, as such, it can be taken the wrong way if used incorrectly.
As the translation suggests, youâd only really use this phrase if you particularly disagreed with what someone is saying. For instance, this is often heard in fiery debates and in heated arguments of all kinds.Â
So, just as with the other firm ways weâve listed of saying âshut upâ in Japanese, only use this in the right context. It can come across as disrespectful or insulting if you are in a more informal setting.Â
8. ããå°ãé»ã£ãŠãŠãããŸããã (mou sukoshi damattete kuremasen ka) â âCould you please be quiet for a little longer?â
Our next method of saying shut up in Japan is a little more niche, but it still does the job at hand. Weâre talking about the phrase: âmou sukoshi damattete kuremasen kaâ , which roughly translates to âcould you please be quiet for a little longer?â
As this suggests, this is typically used for situations where you want someone to be quieter for an extended period of time. Compared to phrases like âdamareâ, itâs a more indirect or politer way of telling someone to quieten down.Â
A common example of usage here may be if someone persistently keeps trying to interrupt in a conversation, and you want to focus on whatâs being said. Itâs less likely to result in offence taken on behalf of the recipient.
9. ä»ã¯é»ã£ãŠã㊠(ima wa damatte ite) â âStay quiet for nowâ
In situations where it is necessary for everyone to be completely silent, you may choose to use âima wa damatte iteâ, or âstay quiet for nowâ. This is a relatively direct way of telling everyone to be quiet, but it is less confrontational than some other phrases.
For instance, tour guides may often employ this phrase when they have to convey important information to visitors. Using this means that listeners will not miss crucial details that need to be passed on, which can prove very useful.
And, if you need to get someoneâs attention in order to tell someone such important information, youâll want to greet them first. Learn how to do this with our handy tips on how to say hello in Japanese.Â
10. ããŒã£ (shii)Â
Last on our list of ways to say shut up in Japanese is âshiiâ. Unlike the rest of the phrases on this list, âshiiâ is onomatopoeic, which means it is more of a sound than a word. As such, it canât really be translated directly into English.Â
Typically, it is used in the same way âshushâ is in English, and it has the same effect. In other words, it is a very easy and straightforward method of reducing the amount of noise in a situation.
And, just like âshushâ, âshiiâ can be used in a playful and informal manner, so you may choose to employ it with friends or family if they are trying to tease you. As such, it is one of the more versatile ways of saying shut up in Japanese. Â
The last word on how to say âshut upâ in Japanese
Thatâs it for todayâs guide. As weâve seen, there are a great number of ways to say shut up in Japanese. From the formal and polite to the prompt and punchy, you now have an arsenal of options for quieting down unwanted noise.Â
Remember, however you say it, itâs important to consider the context in which you are saying âshut upâ. Itâs not a phrase you want to get wrong!
We hope that by learning these sayings and understanding when to use them, you can navigate social interactions more smoothly during your time in Japan.
If youâre a beginner to the Japanese language, and youâd like to learn more on how to begin your linguistic journey, explore our guide to how to start learning Japanese here.Â
Get in touch with us today for more help on Japanese social customs, careers and more.
Apply
Online Now
Apply and join Interac to enrich the lives of hundreds school children as an ALT!
DomesticOutside JapanSalary:
Range of 2.4 to 3.0 million yen annually for 12-month contracts
Location:
All across Japan
Working conditions:
- Salary range of 2.4 to 3.0 million yen annually for 12-month contracts
- 1 year contract (renewable by mutual agreement)
- Work Mondays to Fridays with scheduled teaching hours between 8 am and 5 pm (there will be a few times a year when schools will have special evenings or weekend events)
- Enrollment in National Health or Pension schemes, Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance
- 10 paid holidays a year (5 planned), with breaks during the summer and winter school holidays
Requirements:
- Be a university graduate with at least a bachelorâs degree in any major (If you are graduating in the next six months, you can still apply ahead of time)
- Can evidence having at least 12 years of education where the language of instruction in all courses was English
- Professional in all aspects of behavior, in being a team-player, and in being flexible, cheerful, and energetic
