Meaning
抱怨 means to express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something. It refers to the act of voicing complaints about circumstances, people, or situations that one finds unfavorable. The word carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting persistent or nagging complaints rather than constructive criticism.
Usage
抱怨 is used in everyday conversation when someone is expressing frustration or discontent. It can be followed by specific complaints or used absolutely. Common patterns include 抱怨 + clause (complaining about something) or 向/跟 + person + 抱怨 (complaining to someone). It's more colloquial than formal written alternatives like 投诉.
Examples
- 01他总是抱怨工作太累，工资太低。, .He's always complaining that the work is too tiring and the salary too low.
- 02别再抱怨了，我们应该想办法解决问题。, .Stop complaining; we should think of ways to solve the problem.
Characters
Common collocations
- 抱怨不停to complain endlessly
- 没什么好抱怨的nothing to complain about
- 向某人抱怨to complain to someone
Antonyms
Origin
The character 抱 (to hold) combined with 怨 (resentment) literally suggests 'holding onto resentment,' which evolved to mean expressing complaints and grievances.