Translation guide
To criticize or point out flaws, often in a petty or persistent way. Japanese has several expressions depending on the nuance: from mild complaint to harsh criticism, and from general fault-finding to nitpicking details.
Express dissatisfaction by pointing out what is wrong, often in a negative or nagging way.
The most common and versatile way to say 'find fault' or 'complain'. It can be used for both serious complaints and minor grumbling.
彼はいつも私のやり方に文句を言う。
He always finds fault with the way I do things.
文句を言う前に、自分でやってみてください。
Before you find fault, try doing it yourself.
To blame or criticize, often publicly or formally. Stronger than 文句を言う, implying moral judgment.
メディアは政府の対応を非難した。
The media found fault with the government's response.
To nitpick or find fault with something trivial, often in a mean-spirited way. Casual and slightly negative.
彼は私の新しい髪型にケチをつけた。
He found fault with my new hairstyle.
Literally 'to look for flaws'. Implies actively seeking out faults, often in a meticulous or unfair way.
彼女はいつも人の粗探しをしている。
She is always finding fault with others.
Focus on minor errors or details, often in a pedantic or overly critical manner.
To find fault with someone's words or minor mistakes, often to make them look bad. Implies pouncing on a slip-up.
彼は私の言い間違いの揚げ足を取った。
He found fault with my slip of the tongue.
Idiom: 'to pick at the corners of a lacquered box'. Means to nitpick trivial details. Often used when someone is being overly meticulous.
そんな重箱の隅をつつくような指摘はやめてください。
Please stop finding fault with such trivial details.
To find fault unreasonably; to make an unfair criticism. Stronger than ケチをつける, implies a more aggressive or persistent fault-finding.
彼は私の提案にいちいち難癖をつけた。
He found fault with every single one of my suggestions.
Nag or complain about a partner's or family member's behavior.
To grumble or complain, often about personal matters. Commonly used when venting frustrations to a friend.
彼女は夫の帰りが遅いと愚痴をこぼした。
She found fault with her husband for coming home late.
To scold or nag, often used for parents to children or between spouses. Implies repetitive fault-finding.
母は私の部屋の汚さに小言を言った。
My mother found fault with the messiness of my room.
文句を言う is a general complaint, while 非難する is a formal accusation or blame. Use 文句を言う for everyday fault-finding, and 非難する for serious public criticism.
彼はサービスに文句を言った。
He complained about the service.
新聞はその政策を非難した。
The newspaper criticized the policy.
The English phrase 'find fault' cannot be directly translated word-for-word into Japanese. Expressions like 欠点を見つける (find flaws) are not natural for the act of complaining. Use the phrases above instead.