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.
General term for wasting money or resources. Can be used for both small and large amounts.
He squandered his entire salary on gambling.
Everyday term for wasting money on unnecessary things. Often used in casual conversation.
If you stop squandering money, you can save up.
Literary or formal term for squandering a fortune, often implying complete dissipation.
He squandered his parents' inheritance.
To fail to make good use of time, chances, or potential.
Common phrase for wasting something abstract like time, effort, or an opportunity.
I squandered the chance.
Don't squander your time.
Also used for wasting time or energy, though more commonly for money.
Idiomatic phrase meaning to waste or ruin something valuable, like an opportunity or one's future.
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 time when he was young.
せっかくのチャンスを棒に振った。
I squandered a golden opportunity.
We need to reduce the squandering of energy.