Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing a complaint depends heavily on context: whether it's a formal grievance, a casual grumble, a medical symptom, or a legal filing. The most common everyday word is 文句, but polite complaints use 苦情, and physical complaints use 症状 or 訴え.
Expressing dissatisfaction about something in everyday conversation.
The most common word for a complaint or grumble. Often used in the phrase (to complain). Can sound a bit direct.
He's always complaining.
If you have a complaint, please tell me directly.
Dissatisfaction or discontent. More about a feeling than a verbal complaint. Often used with を言う or がたまる.
I feel dissatisfied with that decision.
My dissatisfaction is building up.
Grumbling or complaining to vent, often without expecting a solution. Used in 愚痴をこぼす.
I want you to listen to my complaints sometimes.
Making an official complaint, such as to customer service or a public office.
Describing a physical ailment or symptom to a doctor.
Filing a formal legal complaint or charge.
文句 is a general, everyday complaint. 苦情 is a formal grievance, often to an organization. クレーム is specifically a customer complaint in a business context. Using 文句 in a formal setting can sound rude.
It's easy to complain to a friend, but it takes courage to file a formal complaint with a company.
文句 implies dissatisfaction, not a symptom or legal charge. For medical issues, use 症状 or 訴え. For legal complaints, use 告訴 or 訴状.
Please direct complaints to this counter.
クレーム対応に追われている。
I'm swamped with handling complaints.
患者の訴えをよく聞くことが大切だ。
It's important to listen carefully to the patient's complaints.
訴状を裁判所に提出した。
I submitted the complaint to the court.