Translation guide
How to express the idea of money that was spent without achieving its intended purpose or value, including common Japanese words and phrases for waste, loss, and poor use of funds.
The speaker feels that money was spent on something that turned out to be worthless, unnecessary, or not worth the cost.
The most common and general term for wasting money. It implies spending on something unnecessary or frivolous. Can be used as a noun or a suru-verb.
I wasted money again.
That was a complete waste of money.
Literally 'waste money'. A more direct noun meaning money that was wasted. Slightly more emphatic than 無駄遣い.
Spending money on something like that is a waste of money.
A verb phrase meaning 'to waste money'. It emphasizes the action of wasting.
I paid a high membership fee but never went, so I wasted my money.
A more formal term for waste or squandering, often used in contexts like 'waste of money' or 'waste of time'. Can be used as a noun or suru-verb.
That project was a huge waste of money.
The speaker refers to money that was spent but yielded no benefit, often in a business or investment context, or simply money that is gone.
Means 'loss' or 'disadvantage'. When referring to money, it implies a financial loss or that the money was wasted. Often used in phrases like 損した (I lost money / it was a waste).
I lost money on that stock. (lit. I bought that stock and it was a loss.)
If it's this expensive, it's a waste of money to buy it.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'to throw money down the drain'. Very vivid and colloquial.
A general word for 'waste' or 'futility'. When used with money, it means the money was wasted. Often used as an adjective (無駄な) or in phrases.
Literally 'dead money'. Refers to money that is not being used effectively or is wasted. Can also mean savings that earn no interest.
The speaker describes a specific item or service they bought that was not worth the money.
A common phrase meaning 'a waste of money'. It directly modifies a noun or stands alone.
This diet gadget was a waste of money.
Means 'a wasteful purchase'. Used when you regret buying something.
I ended up making another wasteful purchase.
Literally 'bad investment'. Used for something that turned out to be a poor use of money, often in a more serious or business context.
無駄遣い is the everyday word for wasting money on small, unnecessary things. 浪費 is more formal and often implies larger-scale waste or squandering, and can be used for time or resources as well.
The daily coffee expense might be a waste of money.
He squandered his inheritance.
無駄金 can sound a bit strong or old-fashioned. For everyday small wastes, 無駄遣い or 金の無駄 is more natural.
I wasted so much money on that online course.
Buying cheap tools is often a waste of money.
Buying such a shoddy product is like throwing money down the drain.
That repair was a wasted expense.
Paying for insurance you don't use is dead money.
That venture was a complete waste of money (bad investment).