1.
complaint; whining; griping
Weak, self-pitying complaints or expressions of helplessness. Carries a negative nuance of complaining without trying to solve the problem.
泣き言を言うな。
Stop whining.
泣き言ばかり言っていても何も変わらない。
Nothing will change if you just keep complaining.
彼は最後まで泣き言を言わずに仕事をやり遂げた。
He completed the job without complaining until the very end.
USAGE: 泣き言 implies weak, self-pitying complaints rather than legitimate grievances. It is most commonly used in the pattern 泣き言を言う (to whine, to complain).
The word carries a negative connotation — using it implies that the speaker considers the complaints unjustified or unproductive.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 泣き言を言う: to whine, to complain
- 泣き言を言わない: to not complain
- 泣き言ばかり: nothing but whining
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 泣き言: self-pitying complaint (negative nuance)
- 愚痴: grumbling, griping (general complaint)
- 文句: complaint, objection (can be legitimate or not)