Translation guide
How to express that something is not worth the money spent, from casual complaints to formal statements.
Express that something was a poor use of money, not worth the cost.
The most common and neutral way to say 'waste of money'. Can be used in various contexts.
This purchase was a waste of money.
Spending money on such things is a waste.
Refers to wasting money through unnecessary spending. Often used as a noun or verb (無駄遣いする).
A colorful idiom meaning 'like throwing money down the drain'. Used for very wasteful spending.
Say that something is overpriced or not good value for money.
Means 'not worth it' in terms of cost vs. benefit. Commonly used for things that don't justify their price.
This restaurant is expensive, but the taste isn't worth the price.
That job isn't worth the time.
Short for コストパフォーマンス (cost performance). Very common in casual speech to mean poor value for money.
This smartphone is not good value for money.
Literally 'does not match the price'. A slightly more formal way to say something isn't worth its cost.
Refer to a particular item or service that was a waste of money.
Means 'wasteful expense'. Used for a specific spending that turned out to be unnecessary.
I think this insurance is a wasteful expense.
Similar to 'like throwing money away'. Emphasizes the feeling of loss.
Describe a tendency to waste money regularly.
無駄遣い (muda-zukai) focuses on the act of wasting money, often as a habit or action. お金の無駄 (okane no muda) is a broader statement that something is a waste of money. Use 無駄遣い when talking about spending behavior, and お金の無駄 when evaluating a purchase or expense.
I want to stop wasting money.
That's a waste of money.
Directly translating 'waste of money' as お金の浪費 (okane no rōhi) is grammatically correct but sounds stiff and unnatural in conversation. Stick to お金の無駄 or 無駄遣い for natural Japanese.
It's a waste of money.
I wasted money again.
I want to cut down on wasteful spending.
Buying such cheap stuff is like throwing money down the drain.
The service at this hotel didn't match the price.
That movie was like throwing money away.
彼女は浪費家で、貯金ができない。
She is a spendthrift and can't save money.