手間暇を惜しむ

te ma hi ma wo oshimu◆idiom

be stingy with effort and time

彼は手間暇を惜しむから、いい仕事ができないんだ。

He’s stingy with his effort and time, so he can’t do good work.

◆ What It Really Means

To avoid putting in necessary effort or time into a task, often leading to subpar results.

¶ Literal Meaning

to begrudge spending effort/time on a task

Literal Breakdown

手間effort or time required for a task+暇free time or leisure+を惜しむto be stingy with, to begrudge spending

◇ Mental Image

Imagine someone holding back their effort and time, as if guarding a limited resource, while the task remains incomplete or poorly done.

◈ When to Use

A student who avoids studying thoroughly, a worker who rushes through tasks without care, or a craftsman who cuts corners in their work.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the Japanese cultural value of diligence and thoroughness in work. It is often used in educational or professional contexts to emphasize the importance of effort.

informal

To avoid putting in effort or time, often leading to poor results due to laziness or negligence.

手間暇を惜しまずに取り組むことが大切だ。

It’s important to put in effort and time without stinting.

手間暇を惜しむ人は、成功するのが難しい。

People who are stingy with effort and time have a hard time succeeding.

Often used to criticize someone for not investing adequate effort or time into a task.

Collocations

手間暇を惜しまずwithout stinting effort and time

Synonyms

手間を惜しむ暇を惜しむ手を抜く

Antonyms

手間暇を惜しまない精を出す

Related Phrases

手抜きphrase

cutting corners, doing shoddy work

手を抜くphrase

to slack off, to not put in full effort

Pro Tip

Common Mistake

Don’t confuse this with 手間がかかる (to take effort/time), which describes the task itself, not the person’s attitude.

Gold Rule

When to Use

Use this idiom when criticizing someone for not investing enough effort or time into a task, especially when it leads to poor results.

Word Origin

Combines 手間 (effort/time required for a task) and 暇 (free time/leisure), emphasizing the reluctance to spend either on a task.

Usage Notes

Commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese, often in criticism or advice. The phrase implies a lack of diligence or commitment.

Word Breakdown

手間

effort or time required for a task

noun

暇

free time or leisure

noun

を惜しむ

to be stingy with, to begrudge spending

verb phrase

和英辞典

手間暇を惜しむ

te ma hi ma wo oshimu◆idiom

be stingy with effort and time

彼は手間暇を惜しむから、いい仕事ができないんだ。

He’s stingy with his effort and time, so he can’t do good work.

◆ What It Really Means

To avoid putting in necessary effort or time into a task, often leading to subpar results.

¶ Literal Meaning

to begrudge spending effort/time on a task

Literal Breakdown

手間effort or time required for a task+暇free time or leisure+を惜しむto be stingy with, to begrudge spending

◇ Mental Image

Imagine someone holding back their effort and time, as if guarding a limited resource, while the task remains incomplete or poorly done.

◈ When to Use

A student who avoids studying thoroughly, a worker who rushes through tasks without care, or a craftsman who cuts corners in their work.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the Japanese cultural value of diligence and thoroughness in work. It is often used in educational or professional contexts to emphasize the importance of effort.

informal

To avoid putting in effort or time, often leading to poor results due to laziness or negligence.

手間暇を惜しまずに取り組むことが大切だ。

It’s important to put in effort and time without stinting.

手間暇を惜しむ人は、成功するのが難しい。

People who are stingy with effort and time have a hard time succeeding.

Often used to criticize someone for not investing adequate effort or time into a task.

Collocations

手間暇を惜しまずwithout stinting effort and time

Synonyms

手間を惜しむ暇を惜しむ手を抜く

Antonyms

手間暇を惜しまない精を出す

Related Phrases

手抜きphrase

cutting corners, doing shoddy work

手を抜くphrase

to slack off, to not put in full effort

Pro Tip

Common Mistake

Don’t confuse this with 手間がかかる (to take effort/time), which describes the task itself, not the person’s attitude.

Gold Rule

When to Use

Use this idiom when criticizing someone for not investing enough effort or time into a task, especially when it leads to poor results.

Word Origin

Combines 手間 (effort/time required for a task) and 暇 (free time/leisure), emphasizing the reluctance to spend either on a task.

Usage Notes

Commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese, often in criticism or advice. The phrase implies a lack of diligence or commitment.

Word Breakdown

手間

effort or time required for a task

noun

暇

free time or leisure

noun

を惜しむ

to be stingy with, to begrudge spending

verb phrase

和英辞典