What's the difference between complaints 不満 不平 文句?


I tried reading explanations in Japanese on hinative, but they tend to use one
of these words to describe the other two.

Usually I only distinguish formal complaints (苦情) and verbal informal
complaints, and apparently there are at least three types of informal
complaints in Japanese.




  * **不満**  
_Dissatisfaction_ or _discontent_ , as literal as it reads. This word doesn't
necessarily mean _complaint_ , because it stands for an emotion and doesn't
need to be expressed.

  * **不平**  
_Complaint about bad, undue, or unfair **treatment**_. In theory, it doesn't
need to be expressed either, but modern usage seems mostly so. We also have a
combined word 不平不満 when people grow really bitter and twisted.

  * **文句**  
It's the easiest word among them that means _something to say against_. Yes,
it widely covers from _complaint_ to _disapproval_.

> 彼の実力を認めたくないやつらが文句をつけているにすぎない。  
>  _Just those who don't want to acknowledge his ability are criticizing it._

  * **苦情**  
_Complaint for remedy of the situation_. I don't think it's particularly
"formal" but imaginably you say this more to officials (but also to companies
for their products etc).

* * *

**PS**

  * **不服**  
The "formal complaints" reminded me of this term, which literally means
"insubordination" and used when you file objections to administrative
decisions: 不服[申立]{もうしたて} _motion for complaint_.




  * **不満**  
_Dissatisfaction_ or _discontent_ , as literal as it reads. This word doesn't
necessarily mean _complaint_ , because it stands for an emotion and doesn't
need to be expressed.

  * **不平**  
_Complaint about bad, undue, or unfair **treatment**_. In theory, it doesn't
need to be expressed either, but modern usage seems mostly so. We also have a
combined word 不平不満 when people grow really bitter and twisted.

  * **文句**  
It's the easiest word among them that means _something to say against_. Yes,
it widely covers from _complaint_ to _disapproval_.

> 彼の実力を認めたくないやつらが文句をつけているにすぎない。  
>  _Just those who don't want to acknowledge his ability are criticizing it._

  * **苦情**  
_Complaint for remedy of the situation_. I don't think it's particularly
"formal" but imaginably you say this more to officials (but also to companies
for their products etc).

* * *

**PS**

  * **不服**  
The "formal complaints" reminded me of this term, which literally means
"insubordination" and used when you file objections to administrative
decisions: 不服[申立]{もうしたて} _motion for complaint_.

