A sound or manner of speaking that is unpleasant or grating to the ear; jarring or cacophonous.
彼の話し方は耳障りで、つい耳をふさぎたくなる。
His way of speaking is grating; I want to cover my ears.
テレビの音が耳障りで集中できない。
The TV sound is harsh on my ears and I can't concentrate.
金属がこすれる耳障りな音が工事現場に響いていた。
A grating metallic noise echoed around the construction site.