Keywords: complain in Chinese, how to complain in Chinese, complaint Chinese, customer service China, lodge a complaint Chinese, tousu meaning, tóusù, 投诉, 投诉电话, 如何投诉, Chinese for complaint
Summary: Learn how to formally “complain” in Chinese with the word tóusù (投诉). This guide explains the crucial difference between making a formal complaint (tóusù) and just grumbling. Discover its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage for handling issues with products, services, or official matters in modern China. Includes over 10 example sentences for real-world situations like dealing with customer service on Taobao or at a restaurant.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): tóusù
Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To formally lodge a complaint about a product, service, or issue, typically to an organization or person in authority.
In a Nutshell: Think of `投诉` not as casual whining, but as taking formal action. It's the word you use when you want a problem officially recognized and solved. If you're just venting to a friend about a bad day, you'd use a different word like `抱怨 (bàoyuàn)`. `投诉` implies you are reporting the issue to someone who has the power to fix it, like a manager, a company's customer service department, or a regulatory body.
Character Breakdown
投 (tóu): This character's original meaning is “to throw” or “to cast.” In this context, it takes on the meaning of “to submit” or “to deliver,” like submitting a document or casting a vote.
诉 (sù): This character means “to tell,” “to state,” or “to accuse.” It carries a formal, almost legal, tone.
When combined, 投诉 (tóusù) literally means “to submit a statement” or “to deliver an accusation.” This perfectly captures the essence of formally lodging a complaint with the expectation of a response or resolution.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, preserving social harmony and `面子 (miànzi)` or “face” can often lead to an avoidance of direct, public confrontation. `投诉` provides a structured, often impersonal, and socially acceptable channel to address grievances without causing a scene. It's a formal procedure rather than an emotional outburst.
Comparison to “Complain” in the West: The English word “complain” is very broad. You can “complain” to a friend about the weather (informal venting) or “complain” to a company about a faulty product (formal action). `投诉` almost exclusively covers the second meaning. It is closer in meaning to “to file a complaint,” “to lodge a formal complaint,” or “to open a support ticket.” Using `投诉` signals that you are serious and expect a resolution.
With the rapid growth of e-commerce and consumer rights awareness in China, the `投诉` process has become a standard and essential part of daily life. Platforms like Taobao, JD.com, and Meituan have sophisticated systems for customers to `投诉`, and businesses are expected to handle these complaints professionally.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Consumer Complaints: This is the most common usage. You can `投诉` about a product that is broken, a food delivery that is late, or a restaurant with poor service.
You might call a `投诉电话 (tóusù diànhuà)` - a complaint hotline.
The national consumer rights hotline in China is 12315.
Official Channels: `投诉` can be used for issues beyond commerce. You might `投诉` to your building's property management (`物业 wùyè`) about a noisy neighbor, or to a government department about an administrative issue.
As a Noun: `投诉` can also be a noun, meaning “a complaint” or “the complaint.” For example, a manager might say, “We received three complaints today.” (`我们今天收到了三个投诉。`)
Formality: The term is almost always used in a formal or semi-formal context. You `投诉` to an organization or authority (`向…投诉 xiàng…tóusù`), not with a friend.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
我要投诉。
Pinyin: Wǒ yào tóusù.
English: I want to make a complaint.
Analysis: A simple, direct, and powerful sentence. This is what you would say to a staff member or customer service representative to initiate the complaint process.
Example 2:
我想投诉你们的服务态度太差了。
Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng tóusù nǐmen de fúwù tàidù tài chà le.
English: I want to complain that your service attitude is terrible.
Analysis: This example shows how to specify the reason for the complaint directly after the verb `投诉`. `服务态度 (fúwù tàidù)` is a key phrase for service quality.
Example 3:
这位顾客的投诉需要马上处理。
Pinyin: Zhè wèi gùkè de tóusù xūyào mǎshàng chǔlǐ.
English: This customer's complaint needs to be handled immediately.
Analysis: Here, `投诉` is used as a noun. `处理 (chǔlǐ)` means “to handle” or “to process,” a common verb paired with `投诉`.
English: If you are not satisfied with the product, you can complain to customer service.
Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the key structure `向 [person/dept] 投诉` (complain to [person/dept]). `客服 (kèfú)` is “customer service.”
Example 5:
我昨天在网上买的手机是坏的，我要投诉卖家。
Pinyin: Wǒ zuótiān zài wǎngshàng mǎi de shǒujī shì huài de, wǒ yào tóusù màijiā.
English: The phone I bought online yesterday is broken, I want to complain about the seller.
Analysis: A very practical sentence for e-commerce situations. `卖家 (màijiā)` means “seller.”
Example 6:
我们收到了关于噪音问题的投诉。
Pinyin: Wǒmen shōudào le guānyú zàoyīn wèntí de tóusù.
English: We have received a complaint about the noise issue.
Analysis: Another noun usage. `关于 (guānyú)` means “regarding” or “about,” used here to specify the subject of the complaint.
Example 7:
请问，投诉电话是多少？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, tóusù diànhuà shì duōshǎo?
English: Excuse me, what is the number for the complaint hotline?
Analysis: A practical question. `投诉电话 (tóusù diànhuà)` is a fixed phrase for “complaint hotline.”
Example 8:
他因为航班延误而向航空公司投诉。
Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi hángbān yánwù ér xiàng hángkōng gōngsī tóusù.
English: He complained to the airline because of the flight delay.
Analysis: The `因为…而… (yīnwèi…ér…)` structure connects a cause (flight delay) with a result (complained). `航空公司 (hángkōng gōngsī)` is “airline company.”
Example 9:
经理正在看上周的客户投诉报告。
Pinyin: Jīnglǐ zhèngzài kàn shàng zhōu de kèhù tóusù bàogào.
English: The manager is reading last week's customer complaint report.
Analysis: `投诉` can be part of a larger compound noun, like `投诉报告 (tóusù bàogào)` or “complaint report.”
Target of the Complaint: A common mistake is using the wrong preposition. You complain to someone (`向…投诉 xiàng…tóusù`). You don't complain *with* someone (`跟…投诉 gēn…tóusù`), unless you mean you are complaining together with them.
Incorrect: 我跟经理投诉了服务员。 (Wǒ gēn jīnglǐ tóusù le fúwùyuán.)
Correct: 我向经理投诉了服务员。 (Wǒ xiàng jīnglǐ tóusù le fúwùyuán.) - I complained to the manager about the waiter.
Related Terms and Concepts
抱怨 (bàoyuàn) - To grumble, whine, or complain informally. The emotional, non-action-oriented counterpart to `投诉`.
举报 (jǔbào) - To report illegal or illicit activities to the authorities. More serious than `投诉` and often involves whistleblowing.
差评 (chàpíng) - A “bad review” or “negative rating.” This is a very common digital form of `投诉` on e-commerce and service apps.
维权 (wéiquán) - To defend one's rights. This is often the ultimate goal of a `投诉`, and can involve legal action if the complaint is not resolved.
客服 (kèfú) - Customer service. The department or person you most often `投诉` to.
不满 (bùmǎn) - Dissatisfaction (noun); dissatisfied (adjective). The feeling that leads one to `投诉`.
抗议 (kàngyì) - To protest. A much stronger, more public, and often political act than `投诉`.
申诉 (shēnsù) - To appeal a formal decision. If your initial `投诉` is rejected, you might `申诉` to a higher authority. It has a strong legal or procedural flavor.