Japanese word

無駄遣い

Pronunciation

Romajimudazukai

Meaning

  • nounwaste

Example

お金の無駄遣いはやめましょう。o kane no mu da zuka i ha ya me ma shō

Let's stop wasting money.

Illustration for 無駄遣い (waste)

More examples

小さな無駄遣いでも、長く続くと大きな出費になります。chii sa na mu da zuka i de mo naga ku tsuzu ku to ō ki na shup pi ni na ri ma su

Even small instances of wasteful spending can add up to a major expense over time.

Core concept

It highlights resources being consumed for little or no benefit, often through unnecessary spending.

Common phrases

  • 無駄遣いをするmu da zuka i o su ru

    spend money wastefully

  • 無駄遣いをやめるmu da zuka i o ya me ru

    stop wasteful spending

  • 無駄遣いを控えるmu da zuka i o hika e ru

    cut back on wasteful spending

Similar words

浪費rōhi: Using money or other resources without gaining enough useful value.
散財sanzai: Using a great deal of money in a careless and unnecessary way.
贅沢zeitaku: Spending more than necessary on comfort or luxury.

Definition in Japanese

必要以上に金や資源を使い、利益や効果を生まないこと。hitsu yō i jō ni kane ya shi gen o tsuka i ri eki ya kō ka o u ma na i ko to

Word origin

無駄遣い (mudazukai, "wasteful use") is formed from 無駄 (muda, "waste") and 遣い (zukai, "use"), the noun form of 遣う (tsukau, "to use"); rendaku changes tsukai to zukai.

Usage tips

  • A purchase can be called 無駄遣い (mudazukai) even when it is inexpensive if it serves no useful purpose, so the word focuses on usefulness rather than price.

Other meanings

  • squanderingnoun
  • frittering awaynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word