Translation guide
How to express grumbling, complaining, or muttering dissatisfaction in Japanese, from casual everyday gripes to formal complaints.
彼はいつも仕事の愚痴を言っている。
He's always grumbling about work.
お腹が鳴っている。
My stomach is grumbling.
Expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance about a situation, person, or thing in a general, often informal way.
The most common and versatile way to say 'complain' or 'grumble'. Can be used in casual and formal contexts.
彼はいつも給料に文句を言っている。
He's always grumbling about his salary.
A very common casual verb meaning to grumble or complain, often about personal matters. Frequently used among friends.
昨日、友達とカフェでずっと愚痴ってた。
Yesterday I was grumbling with my friend at a café the whole time.
A slightly more formal expression for voicing discontent or grumbling. Often used in written or polite speech.
住民は新しい規則に不平を言っている。
The residents are grumbling about the new regulations.
To grumble or mutter complaints under one's breath. Implies a quieter, less direct form of complaining.
彼は一人でぶつぶつぼやいていた。
He was grumbling to himself.
To make a formal complaint or grumble officially, e.g., to a company or authority.
お客様がサービスについて苦情を言った。
The customer grumbled about the service.
Speaking in a low, indistinct tone, often expressing annoyance or dissatisfaction quietly.
Describes muttering or grumbling in a low voice, often to oneself. Very common onomatopoeic expression.
彼は何かぶつぶつ言いながら部屋を出て行った。
He left the room grumbling something under his breath.
To mutter or murmur, not necessarily complaining. Can be used for quiet grumbling or just speaking softly.
「またか」と彼はつぶやいた。
"Not again," he grumbled.
To mutter or grumble in a low, indistinct voice, often implying the speaker is hard to hear.
彼女は不満そうにぼそぼそ言った。
She grumbled discontentedly in a low voice.
Describing the sound a stomach makes when hungry or digesting.
The standard expression for a stomach growling or rumbling. Literally 'stomach makes a sound'.
授業中にお腹が鳴って恥ずかしかった。
My stomach grumbled during class and I was embarrassed.
Onomatopoeic expression specifically for a stomach growling loudly, often from hunger.
お腹がぐうぐう鳴っている。
My stomach is grumbling loudly.
A low, continuous rumbling sound from thunder, engines, or distant noise.
Onomatopoeia for a deep rumbling sound, like thunder or a heavy object rolling. Often used for thunder grumbling in the distance.
遠くで雷がゴロゴロ鳴っている。
Thunder is grumbling in the distance.
To roar, rumble, or resound. Used for loud, powerful rumbling like thunder, engines, or applause.
雷鳴がとどろいた。
Thunder grumbled loudly.
愚痴る (guchiru) is casual and often implies venting to a sympathetic listener without expecting a solution. 文句を言う (monku o iu) is more direct and can be used in both casual and formal complaints. Use 愚痴る with friends, 文句を言う when you want to be taken more seriously.
ただ愚痴りたいだけだよ。
I just want to grumble a bit.
店長に文句を言った。
I grumbled to the store manager.
While 不平 (fuhei) means 'complaint' or 'discontent', using it alone as a verb is unnatural. Always pair it with 言う (to say) or こぼす (to spill/express).