'Dukkha': What is the difference between 'suffering' & 'unsatisfactoriness'? In Buddhism, the English words 'suffering' &amp; 'unsatisfactoriness' are often used as translations of the Pali word 'dukkha'. What is the difference between 'suffering' &amp; 'unsatisfactoriness'?
'Unsatisfactoriness' is one of the Three Characteristics. 'Unsatisfactoriness' refers to an inherent quality of all (conditioned) material &amp; mental things. 

The cause of unsatisfactoriness is impermanence. Due to impermanence, all (conditioned) mental &amp; material cannot be relied upon for lasting true happiness. Therefore, all impermanent things have a quality of unsatisfactoriness, be it major or minor. 

A Buddha or fully enlightened person cannot eradicate unsatisfactoriness because every conditioned phenomena in the universe, including stars &amp; planets &amp; the body &amp; mind of a Buddha, contains the characteristic of unsatisfactoriness. A Buddha experiences unsatisfactorines in everything they see, hear, smell, taste, touch &amp; cognize (except Nirvana. Nirvana is satisfactory because it is the unconditioned peace experienced from letting go of craving).


  Then, friend Yamaka, how would you answer if you are thus asked: A monk, a worthy one, with no more mental effluents: what is he on the
  break-up of the body, after death? Thus asked, I would answer, ‘Form
  is impermanent… Feeling… Perception… Fabrications… Consciousness is
  impermanent. That which is impermanent is unsatisfactory. That which
  is unsatisfactory has ceased and gone to its end. Very good, my friend
  Yamaka. Very good. SN 22.85


~~~


  Now I am frail, Ananda, old, aged, far gone in years. This is my eightieth year, and my life is spent. Even as an old cart, Ananda, is
  held together with much difficulty, so the body of the Tathagata is
  kept going only with supports. It is, Ananda, only when the Tathagata,
  disregarding external objects, with the cessation of certain feelings,
  attains to and abides in the signless concentration of mind, that his
  body is more comfortable. DN 16


Experiencing unsatisfactoriness is the cause of eradicating craving &amp; suffering. When conditioned things are seen with wisdom as unsatisfactory, those conditioned things cease to be desirable. Thus, when desire (craving) ends, suffering ends. 


  Seeing (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness &amp; not-self) thus, the well-instructed disciple of the noble ones grows disenchanted with
  form, disenchanted with feeling, disenchanted with perception,
  disenchanted with fabrications, disenchanted with consciousness.
  Disenchanted, he becomes dispassionate. Through dispassion, he is
  fully released. With full release, there is the knowledge, 'Fully
  released.' He discerns that 'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled,
  the task done. There is nothing further for this world.' SN 22.59


Therefore, unsatisfactoriness &amp; suffering are not the same thing because experiencing unsatisfactoriness results in not experiencing suffering.  


  "All conditioned things are unsatisfactory" — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to
  purification. Dhammapada 278


Below are pictures of unsatisfactoriness; i.e, undesirable things that cannot bring true lasting permanent happiness.