「文句を言う」の英語表現を徹底比較！complain to/aboutの使い分けとmoanやgrumbleのニュアンス
When you feel unhappy about something, how do you say it in English?
A direct translation from Japanese can sometimes sound too strong.
Complaining is a difficult activity. The words you choose are very important.
Today, we will look at:
Three phrases connected to complain
Three informal verbs for everyday complaining
Three useful idioms
By the end of this blog, you will know exactly which word matches your true feeling.
The Main Word: Complain
Complain About (the topic)
Use complain about to talk about the thing, person, or situation that is a problem for you.
- “He’s always complaining about the weather.”
- “What are you complaining about this time?”
- “She complained about the noise from next door.”
Think: About connects the complaint to the problem.
Complain To (the person you tell)
Use complain to to say who listens to your complaint.
- “I’m going to complain to the manager.”
- “Don’t complain to me. I didn’t make the decision.”
- “She complained to her friend about her boss.” (Here, she told her friend about her boss. The complaint topic is her boss; the listener is her friend.)
Think: To points at the listener.
You often use to and about together: “complain to someone about something.”
Make a Complaint (formal)
This is a more serious, official version of “complain.” You use it when you want something recorded or acted upon, like in a shop, hotel, or business.
- “I’d like to make a complaint about the service.”
- “They made a formal complaint to the council.”
Feeling: Official and formal. It is not for casual chat with friends.
Three Informal Verbs for Everyday Grumbling
Sometimes, “complain” is too formal or too neutral.
Here are three verbs that people use in casual English.
Each one gives a very different picture of the speaker.
Moan (long and annoying)
Moan means to complain in a long, slow, unhappy way. It often sounds like a low, continuous noise.
Feeling: It suggests the person is a bit boring and keeps repeating the same thing.
British people use this word a lot for minor, everyday complaints.
- “He moaned about his job all evening.”
- “Stop moaning and do something about it.”
- “She moaned that the train was late again.”
Think: Moan = complain again and again in a boring style.
Grumble (quiet and to yourself)
Grumble means to complain in a low, quiet voice, often without expecting anyone to fix it.
People usually grumble to themselves or to nobody.
Feeling: It is less aggressive than a full complaint. It hints at being quietly unhappy rather than openly angry.
- “The old man grumbled about the cold coffee.”
- “There’s no point grumbling. Nobody is listening.”
- “I heard her grumbling as she left the room.”
Think: Grumble = the sound of storms far away. It is quieter than complain, and often you are talking to yourself.
Whine (high and childlike)
Whine means to complain in a high, annoying voice, often about something small. It sounds childish.
Feeling: Very negative. Nobody wants to sound like they are whining. If someone says “Stop whining,” they are telling you to stop acting like a child.
- “The children whined about having to wait.”
- “He’s always whining about how unfair life is.”
- “Don’t whine. Just ask nicely.”
Think: Whine = a child’s voice when they want a toy.
Use it only when you want to describe this kind of unpleasant sound.
Quick Contrast
Moan: a long, boring, continuous complaint, like a low machine noise.
Grumble: a quiet, private complaint, often to yourself. Like distant thunder.
Whine: a high, annoying, childlike complaint. Like a child asking for candy.
Three Useful Idioms for Complaints
Have a Bone to Pick with Someone
This means you have a specific complaint to discuss with that person.
It is often used as a signal that a serious or direct conversation is about to happen.
Feeling: Slightly confrontational (ready for an argument), but not extremely rude.
- “I’ve got a bone to pick with you. You told her my secret.”
- “He came into my office and said, ‘I have a bone to pick with you.’ I felt very scared.”
Think: “I am angry with you and I am going to tell you why.”
Chew Someone Out
This is American casual English. It means to shout at someone or complain to them very angrily, usually for a specific mistake.
Feeling: Strong anger. This is not a small complaint.
- “The boss chewed him out for being late again.”
- “My mum chewed me out when I crashed the car.”
Think: Chew out = attack with words. The image is of an animal chewing something up completely - remember that chew = eating with back teeth.
Cultural note: This is very informal. Do not use it in a formal letter.
Cry Over Spilt Milk
This idiom means to complain or be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
It is almost always used in the negative: “There’s no use crying over spilt milk.” / “Don’t cry over spilt milk.”
Feeling: Good advice. It tells someone to accept the past and move on.
- “I know you made a mistake, but there’s no use crying over spilt milk.”
- “We can’t change the schedule now. Don’t cry over spilt milk.”
Think: The milk is already on the floor. Crying won’t clean it up. Look forward, not backward.
Why This Matters
Choosing between moan, grumble, and whine changes how people see you.
- “He complained about it.” (neutral)
- “He moaned about it.” (he was annoying)
- “He grumbled about it.” (he was quietly unhappy)
- “He whined about it.” (he sounded like a child)
If you are talking about yourself, be careful. Saying “I was moaning” can show self-awareness. Saying “I was whining” makes you sound very weak.
Also, knowing when to use make a complaint (formal) versus complain about (casual) will help you in real situations, like returning a broken item to a shop.
Common Mistakes
- ✘ “I shouldn’t complain to the weather. It doesn’t help.”
✔ “I shouldn’t complain about the weather. It doesn’t help.” (Weather is the topic, not the thing you tell.)
- ✘ “Can I complain about you?”
✔ “Can I complain to you?” (You want to release your anger by talking with me, you don’t have a problem with me.)
Quick Practice
Choose the best word for each sentence.
1. I’m going to ______ the manager about the cold soup.
a) complain to
b) complain about
2. He just sat there ______ to himself about the long wait.
a) whining
b) grumbling
3. She was ______ in that high, annoying voice about the queue.
a) moaning
b) whining
4. I’d like to ______ a complaint about the noise.
a) make
b) do
5. I have ______ with you. You ate my lunch.
a) a bone to pick
b) a bone to chew
6. There’s no use ______ spilt milk. Let’s just fix the problem.
a) crying over
b) crying on
Final Thought
Complaining is something we all do. The trick is to match your words to the situation.
- Need a formal outcome? Make a complaint.
- Want to share a problem with a friend? Complain about it.
- Want to describe someone else’s unpleasant noise? Use moan, grumble, or whine.
- Want to signal a serious talk? Say you have a bone to pick.
- Want to tell someone to accept the past? Remind them not to cry over spilt milk.
Choose your tone as carefully as you choose your words.
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Answers:
1) a
2) b
3) b
4) a
5) a
6) a