Translation guide
The act of wasting resources like money, time, or opportunities in a reckless or careless way.
To spend money wastefully or extravagantly, often on unnecessary things.
To fail to make good use of time, chances, or potential.
Common phrase for wasting something abstract like time, effort, or an opportunity.
チャンスを無駄にしてしまった。
I squandered the chance.
時間を無駄にしないで。
Don't squander your time.
To use up resources like water, electricity, or fuel carelessly.
浪費 (ろうひ) is a more formal term and often implies larger-scale waste, while 無駄遣い (むだづかい) is casual and commonly used for everyday small wastes. 浪費 can be used for time and money, but 無駄遣い is almost exclusively for money or tangible resources.
English 'squandering' often carries a strong negative judgment. In Japanese, 無駄遣い is softer and more common. Using 蕩尽 (とうじん) in casual speech would sound overly dramatic.
He squandered his entire salary on gambling.
Everyday term for wasting money on unnecessary things. Often used in casual conversation.
無駄遣いをやめれば貯金できるよ。
If you stop squandering money, you can save up.
Literary or formal term for squandering a fortune, often implying complete dissipation.
彼は親の遺産を蕩尽した。
He squandered his parents' inheritance.
Also used for wasting time or energy, though more commonly for money.
彼は若い頃、時間を浪費した。
He squandered his time when he was young.
Idiomatic phrase meaning to waste or ruin something valuable, like an opportunity or one's future.
せっかくのチャンスを棒に振った。
I squandered a golden opportunity.
Also used for wasting utilities or resources.
水の無駄遣いはやめましょう。
Let's stop squandering water.
Can be used for resources, but 無駄遣い is more common in everyday speech.
エネルギーの浪費を減らす必要がある。
We need to reduce the squandering of energy.