Translation guide
How to express 'wasting time' in Japanese, from casual procrastination to formal delays.
Spending time without purpose, often for enjoyment or relaxation.
Literally 'to crush time', this is the most common way to say 'kill time' or 'waste time' in a casual sense, often while waiting for something.
カフェで時間を潰した。
I killed time at a café.
A noun meaning 'killing time' or 'pastime'. Often used in the phrase 暇つぶしをする.
暇つぶしにゲームをした。
I played games to kill time.
To spend time lazily or idly, often with a negative connotation of being unproductive.
休日は家でだらだら過ごした。
I spent the day off lazing around at home.
Using time in a way that yields no benefit, often with regret.
The direct translation of 'waste time'. It implies a clear loss of valuable time.
会議で時間を無駄にした。
I wasted time in the meeting.
A noun phrase meaning 'a waste of time'. Often used in statements like 'It's a waste of time.'
そんなことをするのは時間の無駄だ。
Doing that is a waste of time.
Primarily means 'waste' (of money, resources), but can be used with 時間 to mean 'wasting time'.
Putting off tasks, leading to wasted time.
Procrastination; the act of postponing things. Often used with する.
仕事を先延ばしにして時間を無駄にした。
I procrastinated on work and wasted time.
An adverb meaning 'dawdling' or 'slowly', often implying wasting time through hesitation.
Causing another person to lose time.
Literally 'to make someone take time', meaning to take up someone's time, often apologetically.
お時間を取らせてすみません。
Sorry for taking up your time.
To cause someone trouble or waste their effort/time. More about effort than pure time.
手間を取らせて申し訳ありません。
I'm sorry to have wasted your time/troubled you.
時間を潰す is for killing time casually, often while waiting. 時間を無駄にする is for wasting time unproductively, with a sense of loss. Use 潰す when you're just passing time, and 無駄にする when you regret it.
電車を待つ間、時間を潰した。
I killed time while waiting for the train.
スマホを見て時間を無駄にした。
I wasted time looking at my phone.
Saying 時間を無駄にする when you mean 'kill time' can sound overly negative. If you're just passing time pleasantly, use 時間を潰す or 暇つぶし.
時間の無駄遣いだ。
It's a waste of time.
ぐずぐずしてないで、早くしなさい。
Stop wasting time and hurry up.