持て余す · godan verb (-su)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 持て余す | 持て余さない |
| Polite | 持て余します | 持て余しません |
| Past polite | 持て余しました | 持て余しませんでした |
| Past | 持て余した | 持て余さなかった |
| Te-form | 持て余して | 持て余さないで |
| Desire | 持て余したい | 持て余したくない |
| Potential | 持て余せる | 持て余せない |
| Passive | 持て余される | 持て余されない |
| Causative | 持て余させる | 持て余させない |
| Causative passive | 持て余させられる | 持て余させられない |
| Volitional | 持て余そう | |
| Polite volitional | 持て余しましょう | |
| Imperative | 持て余せ | 持て余すな |
| Conditional | 持て余せば | 持て余さなければ |
| Tara conditional | 持て余したら | 持て余さなかったら |
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
be too much to handle; not know what to do with; find unmanageable
Used when someone has more than they can deal with, such as excess time, energy, or a difficult person/thing. Often implies being at a loss or overwhelmed.
I don't know what to do with all the free time during summer vacation.
彼は自分の才能を持て余しているように見える。
He seems to be at a loss with his own talent, not knowing how to use it.
Since retiring, I've had so much free time I don't know what to do with it.
The train was late, and I had time to kill at the station.
The puppy had so much pent-up energy that it ran all around the room.
The teacher didn't know what to do with the mischievous student.