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.
この買い物はお金の無駄だった。
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).
また無駄遣いしちゃった。
I wasted money again.
無駄遣いを減らしたい。
I want to cut down on wasteful spending.
A colorful idiom meaning 'like throwing money down the drain'. Used for very wasteful spending.
そんな安物を買うのは金をドブに捨てるようなものだ。
Buying such cheap stuff is like throwing money down the drain.
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.
このレストランは高いけど、味が割に合わない。
This restaurant is expensive, but the taste isn't worth the price.
その仕事は時間の割に合わない。
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.
このスマホはコスパが悪い。
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.
このホテルは値段に見合わないサービスだった。
The service at this hotel didn't match the price.
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.
この保険は無駄な出費だと思う。
I think this insurance is a wasteful expense.
Similar to 'like throwing money away'. Emphasizes the feeling of loss.
あの映画は金を捨てたようなものだった。
That movie was like throwing money away.
Describe a tendency to waste money regularly.
Means 'spends money recklessly' or 'is wasteful with money'. Describes a person's habit.
彼は金遣いが荒いから、すぐにお金がなくなる。
He spends money recklessly, so he runs out of money quickly.
A noun meaning 'wasteful person' or 'spendthrift'.
彼女は浪費家で、貯金ができない。
She is a spendthrift and can't save money.
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.
無駄遣いをやめたい。
I want to stop wasting money.
それはお金の無駄だよ。
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.
お金の無駄だ。
It's a waste of money.