不满 vs. 不满意

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“不满”&“不满意” , both very frequently used by foreign learners, are very close in meaning, and sometimes mis-used, but they are seldom discussed in any close synonym analysis.

In my opinion, the major difference between these two is that--“不满意”is used when someone is making evaluation, while “不满” refers to the case that someone is not happy about.

(N.B.: The following examples are from online sentence database "Jukuu", and so are the translations related to “不满意”or“不满” in the parentheses after each sentence.)

1. “不满意”
   --他对什麽都不满意，总是抱怨。(Nothing satisfies him...)
   --她不满意我们的工作，让我们全部返工。(She wasn't satisfied)
   --教师不满意我的作业，我只好重做。(is not content)
   --他的意思是不满意我们的服务吗? (he was dissatisfied)
   --那位大使草拟了一份条约，结果两国均不满意。(was not satisfactory to either nations)
   --我们的交通状况令人不满意。(leaves much to be desired)
   
   
2. “不满”
   --你若有什麽不满就跟我说。(If you've got any grouses)
   --董事会对销售额下降很不满。(is unhappy about)
   --连美国中产阶级的消费者也开始对飞涨的物价表示不满。 (beginning to kick against the runaway prices)
   --很多人已表示出对此建议的不满。(expressed their dissatisfaction)
   --政府提高税收的新措施真的开始引起不满了。(are really beginning to bite)
   --反对派正竭力在选民中激起不满情绪。(feelings of dissatisfaction)
   --我很不满他干预我的私事。(resented his interference)