Translation guide
A grievance is a complaint or a feeling of being treated unfairly. In Japanese, the expression depends on whether it's a formal complaint, a personal grudge, or a sense of injustice.
A formal statement of a problem or unfair treatment, often in a workplace or official context.
The most common word for a formal complaint or grievance, especially in customer service or official settings.
お客様から苦情が来た。
We received a complaint from a customer.
苦情を申し立てる。
To file a grievance.
Used for formal objections or dissatisfaction, often in legal or procedural contexts.
決定に不服を申し立てる。
To lodge a grievance against the decision.
Literally 'to say dissatisfaction', used for voicing complaints or grievances, often in a less formal way than 苦情.
彼はいつも不平を言っている。
He's always airing his grievances.
A lingering feeling of resentment or being wronged, often in personal relationships.
A feeling that one has been treated unfairly, without necessarily a formal complaint.
Unfair treatment; often used to describe the source of a grievance.
不当な扱いに対して抗議した。
We protested against the unfair treatment.
Dissatisfaction or discontent; a common way to express a grievance in everyday conversation.
不満を感じている。
I feel a grievance.
苦情 is for formal complaints (e.g., to a company), while 恨み is for personal grudges. Using 苦情 for a personal grudge sounds odd.
彼に苦情がある。
I have a complaint about him. (unnatural for personal grudge)
There remains a grievance between the two parties.