Noise late at night
Neutral Depends on context
What it really means
Terraced houses and flats have thin walls, and quiet after about 11pm is a strong social expectation — loud music, parties, or noisy phone calls late at night quickly upset neighbours. Councils can act on repeated night noise. Hosting a party? A note or knock to warn the neighbours in advance goes a long way.
Chinese explanation
英国的联排房和公寓隔音差,晚上11点后保持安静是很强的社会共识——深夜大声放音乐、开派对、大声打电话会很快惹恼邻居。屡次夜间扰民,市政部门可以介入。要开派对?提前给邻居留张字条或敲门打个招呼,效果非常好。
Example conversation
A: We're having a few people over Saturday — might be a bit of noise. Should we tell next door?
B: Definitely. Pop a note through or invite them. Neighbours forgive noise they were warned about.
A:我们周六请几个朋友来家里——可能会有点吵。要跟隔壁说一声吗?
B:一定要。塞张字条或者干脆邀请他们。提前打过招呼的吵闹,邻居都好原谅。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake