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March 24, 2026
投诉(投訴)tóusù(tou2su4)
投诉 (tóusù) means to file a complaint or to register a grievance, often in a customer service context. It's commonly used when someone is dissatisfied with a product or service and seeks resolution from a company or authority.
Frequency#4506DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, addressing grievances formally through complaints is often seen as a way to seek justice or resolution, especially in customer service contexts. The rise of e-commerce has led to an increase in the use of 投诉 in online platforms.
Memory Tip
Think of 投 (tóu) as 'throwing' and 诉 (sù) as 'telling'—you are 'throwing' your complaints out into the world for someone to 'tell' your concerns to. Picture a frustrated customer throwing a complaint letter into a suggestion box.
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AI Study Notes for 投诉
Quick Contrast
投诉 (tóusù) vs 申诉 (shēnsù) — use 投诉 when referring to complaints in a consumer context, while 申诉 is more formal and often relates to legal or administrative appeals.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 投 (tóu) as 'throwing' and 诉 (sù) as 'telling'—you are 'throwing' your complaints out into the world for someone to 'tell' your concerns to. Picture a frustrated customer throwing a complaint letter into a suggestion box.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 投诉 with other similar verbs like 抱怨 (bàoyuàn), which means to complain informally. This term is typically more formal and is used in contexts related to customer service or legal matters. Remember to use the correct tone in pronunciation—tóu has a rising tone, while sù has a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 投诉 connects well with other formal vocabulary related to customer service and legal contexts. Students should focus on using it in sentences that reflect complaints or grievances, enhancing their formal communication skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, addressing grievances formally through complaints is often seen as a way to seek justice or resolution, especially in customer service contexts. The rise of e-commerce has led to an increase in the use of 投诉 in online platforms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 投诉 with 申诉 (shēnsù), which is more about appealing a decision rather than lodging a complaint. For example, saying '我想申诉这个产品' (wǒ xiǎng shēnsù zhège chǎnpǐn) is incorrect if you're merely complaining about a product issue.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 投诉
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Grammar Patterns of 投诉
投诉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
如果你得不到任何赔偿，向园区所有者____。
If you can't get any satisfaction, complain to the park owner.
The leaflet explains how to complain to the banking ombudsman.
Cultural Notes for 投诉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, addressing grievances formally through complaints is often seen as a way to seek justice or resolution, especially in customer service contexts. The rise of e-commerce has led to an increase in the use of 投诉 in online platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions about 投诉
You can say '我想投诉这个产品' (wǒ xiǎng tóusù zhège chǎnpǐn) meaning 'I want to complain about this product.'
While it is primarily used in business, it can also apply to any situation where you need to express dissatisfaction formally.
投诉 is more formal and often involves seeking a resolution, while 抱怨 is informal and can be used for general complaining.
