Discussion of 抱怨

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In this post we discuss two similar words: 埋怨 and 抱怨

埋怨 is usually followed by a person or a person's trait. For example:
E.g. 1A 别埋怨他了，这事儿不是他的错。 (= Don't blame him,...)
E.g. 2A 爸爸总是埋怨妈妈记性不好。(= ...blames things onto mom's poor memory)

When 埋怨 is used alone and the object of the verb is not specified, it means to "generally complain about things/people".
E.g. 3A 她工作勤恳，从不埋怨。(=She works earnestly and assiduously and never complains).
E.g. 4A 埋三怨四 (= to complain about this and that)

抱怨 is “to complain”, but it cannot be followed by only a person. For example, 1B is incorrect:
E.g. 1B ＊别抱怨他了，这事儿不是他的错。

2B below is correct, however, the meaning is different from 2A:
E.g. 2B 爸爸总是（向我，向哥哥，向sb）抱怨妈妈记性不好。= ...complains to me/ to someone about mom's poor memory)

抱怨 can be used alone without a specific object, just like 埋怨. 3A and 3B share the same thing:
E.g. 3B 她工作勤恳，从不抱怨。 [phr] She works earnestly and assiduously and never complains

lisaC

Is 抱怨 (bào yuàn) commonly used in informal or formal contexts?

个学生

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also〈発音注意〉bàoyuan

娜哇🐸

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