Translation guide
The English word "wasted" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: being very drunk or under the influence of drugs, being used inefficiently or squandered, being physically weak or emaciated, and being killed or destroyed. It also includes some niche or slang uses.
To describe someone who is extremely intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, often to the point of being unable to function normally.
A common verb meaning 'to get drunk'. The past tense 酔っ払った is often used to describe being wasted.
He was completely wasted last night.
A noun or suru-verb meaning 'dead drunk' or 'blind drunk'. It implies a very high level of intoxication.
He was wasted and sleeping on the street.
A slang onomatopoeic word describing someone who is very drunk, often to the point of slurring or being sick. Used as a na-adjective or adverb.
Yesterday I drank until I was wasted.
Slang for being high or wasted on drugs. ラリる comes from the English 'rally' but means to be under the influence.
He seems wasted on drugs.
To describe time, money, resources, or opportunities that were not used effectively and are now lost.
A verb phrase meaning 'to waste'. It is the most direct and common translation for this meaning.
He wasted his chance.
Don't waste time.
A noun or na-adjective meaning 'waste' or 'futility'. Often used in phrases like 無駄になる (to go to waste) or 無駄な (wasted).
A verb meaning 'to waste' or 'to squander', often used for money or resources.
He wasted his entire salary.
Means 'to ruin' or 'to spoil', implying that something was wasted because it was made useless or less enjoyable.
The picnic was wasted because of the rain.
To describe a person or body part that is extremely thin and weak, often due to illness or lack of food.
A verb meaning 'to become haggard' or 'to become emaciated'. Often used to describe someone who looks wasted away.
He became completely wasted by illness.
A verb meaning 'to weaken' or 'to become debilitated'. It can describe a wasted physical state.
His body was wasted from the long illness.
To describe someone being killed, often in a violent or casual context, or something being completely destroyed.
The standard verb for 'to kill'. In slang, it can be used like 'wasted' in English.
Waste that guy!
Means 'to beat' or 'to defeat', but can imply killing in a rough context.
Slang for 'to kill' or 'to rub out', similar to 'waste' in gangster movies.
Do not use 無駄 (waste) to describe a drunk person. 無駄 means inefficiency or futility, not intoxication. Use 酔っ払う or 泥酔 instead.
無駄 is a broader term for waste, futility, or uselessness. 浪費 specifically refers to squandering money or resources. For 'wasted time', 無駄 is more natural.
That effort was wasted.
A compound verb meaning 'to become thin and weak'. More literary or descriptive.
She became wasted, just skin and bones.
Waste the enemy!
Waste the traitor.