不平

• Reading: ふへい
• Romaji: fuhei
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu) — not; 平 (hei) — flat, level, peaceful
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.he.i/

Meaning

Complaint; discontent; dissatisfaction. A feeling of unfairness or grievance.

A noun, na-adjective, and no-adjective. Most commonly appears in the compound 不平不満 (fuhei fuman, complaints and dissatisfaction) and the expression 不平を言う (to complain). Carries a sense of grumbling about perceived unfairness rather than formal protest. Often paired with 不満 for emphasis. Slightly more formal than 文句 (monku, complaint).

Examples

1. 彼はいつも仕事の不平ばかり言っている。 He's always complaining about his job.
2. 不平不満を口にしても状況は変わらない。 Voicing complaints and grievances won't change the situation.
3. 待遇に不平を持つ社員が増えている。 More and more employees are unhappy with their treatment.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, relationships, daily life

Tone: discontented

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (fu, not) and 平 (hei, flat/level/peaceful). Literally 'not level' — a state of imbalance or perceived unfairness, as if the scales are not even.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal