もったいない
もったいない · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | もったいない | もったいなくない |
| Polite | もったいないです | もったいなくないですalso もったいなくありません |
| Past polite | もったいなかったです | もったいなくなかったですalso もったいなくありませんでした |
| Past | もったいなかった | もったいなくなかった |
| Te-form | もったいなくて | もったいなくなくて |
| Adverbial | もったいなく | |
| Conditional | もったいなければ | もったいなくなければ |
| Tara conditional | もったいなかったら | もったいなくなかったら |
Meanings
wasteful; a waste
Expresses regret that something valuable is not being used well or is being thrown away. Common in everyday speech.
It's wasteful to throw it away when it's still edible.
Let's start soon because time is too precious to waste.
too good for; more than one deserves; unworthy of
Used when someone or something is considered too good or valuable for the current situation or recipient. Often implies humility or praise.
She is such a wonderful person that I feel she's too good for me.
It's too good for me to drink such a high-class wine.
sacrilegious; impious; profane
Rare, archaic sense expressing that something is irreverent or disrespectful toward something sacred or highly esteemed. Mostly found in older texts.
It is sacrilegious to treat the gods and Buddha carelessly.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉を捨てるのはもったいないit's a waste to throw X away
It's still usable, so it's a waste to throw it away.
- 〈人〉には〈物〉がもったいないX is too good for someone
Such a fine house is too good for him.
- 〈時〉がもったいないto be a waste of time
The time spent waiting for the train feels wasted.
- 〈動詞〉のがもったいないit's a waste to do (something)
It's a waste not to read this book.