Translation guide
To consume or expend something completely so that nothing remains. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for using up resources, money, energy, time, and supplies.
To use all of a resource such as money, fuel, food, or supplies until none is left.
The most common and versatile verb for using something up completely. It emphasizes finishing the use of a resource.
今月の予算を使い切ってしまった。
I've used up this month's budget.
ガソリンを使い切る前に給油しよう。
Let's refuel before we use up all the gas.
Similar to 使い切る but with a stronger nuance of depleting something entirely, often with a sense of exhaustion or finality.
貯金を使い果たしてしまった。
I've used up all my savings.
More formal and often used in economic or technical contexts. Means 'to consume' rather than just 'use up'.
この工場は大量の電力を消費する。
This factory consumes a huge amount of electricity.
To spend all available time or physical/mental energy on something.
Directly means 'to use up time'. Natural when talking about allocated time.
試験時間を使い切って答案を見直した。
I used up all the exam time and reviewed my answers.
To exhaust one's physical strength. 使い果たす emphasizes complete depletion.
山登りで体力を使い果たした。
I used up all my energy climbing the mountain.
To spend or expend time, effort, or money, often with a nuance of sacrifice or investment. More formal.
To emphasize that absolutely nothing remains, often with a sense of waste or regret.
Adding すっかり (completely) to 使い切る reinforces the idea of total consumption.
インクをすっかり使い切ってしまった。
I've completely used up the ink.
Similar to 使い果たす, but 尽くす implies using something to the very last bit, often with a nuance of thoroughness.
資源を使い尽くしてはいけない。
We must not use up all our resources.
To spend all available money, often with a negative connotation.
Standard way to say 'use up money'.
旅行でお金を使い切った。
I used up all my money on the trip.
Literally 'eat up savings', a vivid expression for depleting savings gradually, often due to lack of income.
無職で貯金を食いつぶしている。
Being jobless, I'm eating up my savings.
使い切る is the most neutral and common. 使い果たす emphasizes exhaustion or finality, often with a negative nuance. 使い尽くす implies using every last bit, sometimes with a sense of thoroughness or waste.
ガソリンを使い切った。
I used up the gas. (neutral)
体力を使い果たした。
I exhausted my strength. (finality)
資源を使い尽くす。
Use up resources completely. (thoroughness)
Simply saying 使うだけ (just use) does not convey the meaning of complete consumption. Use compound verbs like 使い切る instead.
彼は研究に多くの時間を費やした。
He spent a lot of time on his research.