愚痴(ぐち)

ぐち
noun
complaint; grumble; whining
communication
1. complaint; grumbling; whining about one's troubles
Expressing dissatisfaction or complaints about problems, often repeatedly and without seeking a solution.
仕事(しごと)の愚痴(ぐち)を聞(き)いてくれる？
Would you listen to me complain about work?
愚痴(ぐち)を言(い)っても何(なに)も変(か)わらない。
Complaining won't change anything.
彼(かれ)は愚痴(ぐち)ばかり言(い)っている。
He does nothing but complain.
愚痴(ぐち)をこぼしたくなる気持(きも)ちは分(わ)かるけど、前(まえ)に進(すす)もう。
I understand the urge to complain, but let's move forward.
飲(の)み会(かい)で上司(じょうし)の愚痴(ぐち)を言(い)い合(あ)うのは、サラリーマンのストレス発散(はっさん)の一(ひと)つだ。
Complaining about the boss at drinking parties is one way office workers let off steam.

Common collocations

USAGE (who hears it):
愚痴(ぐち) is aimed at a sympathetic listener, not at the person responsible - you grumble to a friend about your boss, you do not grumble to your boss. Because it implies venting rather than solving, offering to listen (聞(き)く) is a friendly act, while being called 愚痴(ぐち)っぽい is not a compliment.

Similar words

  • 文句(もんく) (complaint, objection) - said to the person concerned; a direct protest that expects something to change.
  • 不満(ふまん) (dissatisfaction) - the feeling itself, whether or not it is voiced.
  • 苦情(くじょう) (complaint) - formal, made to a business or an authority.

Etymology

愚痴(ぐち) is originally a Buddhist term for one of the three poisons (三毒(さんどく)) - ignorance or delusion (愚(ぐ) = foolish, 痴(ち) = ignorant). The modern everyday sense has drifted well away from that.

Related Words

Compare: 文句(もんく) (complaint (direct))
Related: 不満(ふまん) (dissatisfaction)
Related: 苦情(くじょう) (formal complaint)
Related: 繰(く)り言(ごと) (repetitive complaints)
Compare: 恨(うら)み言(ごと) (words of resentment)
core
Added 2026.1.18 12:30 · Revised 2026.10.11 9:21
06500/06623_guchi