Japanese word

もったいない

Pronunciation

Romajimottainai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivewasteful

Example

水を出したままにするのはもったいないです。mizu o da shi ta ma ma ni su ru no wa mo tta i na i de su

It is wasteful to leave the water running.

Illustration for もったいない (wasteful)

More examples

まだ使える服を捨てるのはもったいないです。ma da tsuka e ru fuku o su te ru no wa mo tta i na i de su

It is wasteful to throw away clothes that are still usable.

Core concept

もったいない (mottainai) describes something valuable being left unused or lost, with a sense that wasting it is regrettable.

Common phrases

  • もったいない使い方mo tta i na i tsuka i kata

    wasteful use

  • 時間がもったいないji kan ga mo tta i na i

    a waste of time

Similar words

惜しいoshii: Describes something valuable that is lost, missed, or given up with regret.

Definition in Japanese

まだ利用できる物や機会を無駄にして惜しいさま。ma da ri yō de ki ru mono ya ki kai o mu da ni shi te o shi i sa ma

Word origin

The origin is not fully certain; the traditional spelling 勿体ない (mottainai) links the word with 勿体 (mottai, "substance or worth"), while ない (nai, "not present") suggests a lack of due value.

Usage tips

  • For English speakers, もったいない (mottainai) covers both wasteful use and regret that something useful or valuable is being wasted, so wasteful alone can miss part of its meaning.

Other meanings

  • a wastei-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • もったいなさmottainasawastefulnessnoun

Word lists with this word