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時間を無駄にする
jikan o muda ni suru
to waste time
彼は会議で時間を無駄にした。
He wasted time in the meeting.
informal
to spend time in a way that does not achieve anything useful or productive
そんな細かいことに時間を無駄にしないでください。
Please don't waste time on such trivial matters.
ゲームばかりしていて時間を無駄にしている。
You're just wasting time playing games all day.
Often used to criticize someone for not using time efficiently. Can imply frustration or disappointment.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use this phrase
Use 時間を無駄にする when you want to criticize someone for not using their time productively. It’s stronger than just saying 'you’re wasting time' in English and can imply frustration. For a softer tone, consider 時間を有効に使いましょう ('let's use time effectively').
Gold Rule
Avoid overusing
This phrase can sound accusatory if used too directly. Pair it with constructive suggestions or use it in self-reflection (e.g., 今日は時間を無駄にしてしまった 'I wasted time today').
Word Origin
Composed of 時間 (jikan, 'time') + を (o, object marker) + 無駄 (muda, 'waste') + に (ni, adverbial particle) + する (suru, 'to do'). The phrase literally means 'to do waste to time,' but is used idiomatically to mean 'to waste time.'
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversation to express disapproval of someone's inefficient use of time. It can sound harsh if directed at someone, so it's often softened with context or polite language.
Word Breakdown
時間
time
nounを
object marker
particle無駄
waste
nounにする
to make into
verb phrase和英辞典