もったいない
mottainai
The English word 'wasteful' can be translated into Japanese as もったいない (mottainai).
もったいない is a versatile term used to describe a person's wasteful behavior or to express that a specific thing or opportunity is being wasted, often translating to 'wasteful' or 'a shame'.
Meaning: inclined to waste (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to turn the adjective into a noun phrase meaning 'a wasteful thing' or 'a wasteful act', add the noun こと (koto) after it to form もったいないこと.
How do you pronounce it?
mottainai
When do people say it?
The concept of もったいない reflects a cultural philosophy of respect for objects and the regret felt when something is wasted instead of being used to its full potential.
Did you know?
- The phrase もったいない became a global environmental slogan after Wangari Maathai, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, introduced it to the United Nations to describe a sustainable way of living.
- The concept of もったいない is rooted in Shinto and Buddhist beliefs that objects have spirits and feel pain or sadness when they are wasted.
- In Japanese, もったいない can be used to describe a person who is 'too good' for a certain role, meaning their talents are being wasted in their current position.
Examples in context
- その服まだ一度しか着てないのに捨てちゃうの？そんなもったいないことしちゃ駄目だよ。You're throwing those clothes away even though you have only ever worn them once? You can't be so wasteful.This sentence is useful for expressing that throwing away clothes that have only been worn once is a wasteful act using もったいない.Tatoeba #894499 by bunbuku, translation #10122450 by tsp_2
- このプロジェクトは浪費的だと思います。This project is wasteful, in my opinion.
- この方法は無駄な努力だと思います。I believe this method is a wasteful effort.
- 食べ残しはもったいないから、お弁当に詰めて一緒に持っていこう。It's a waste to leave leftovers, so let's pack them in a lunchbox and take them with us.
- 食べ残すのはもったいないですよ。tabenokosu no wa mottainai desu yo.It is wasteful to leave food uneaten.
- まだ使えるのに捨てるなんて、もったいない。mada tsukaeru no ni suteru nante, mottainai.It's wasteful to throw it away when it's still usable.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to do with leftover food at home.
- 陽葵 Himariこの料理、まだ残っているよ。kono ryouri, mada nokotte iru yo.There is still food left over.
- 蓮 Ren明日食べればいいよね。ashita tabereba ii yo ne.We can eat it tomorrow, right?
- 陽葵 Himariそうだね、捨てるのはもったいないし。sou dane, suteru no wa mottainai shi.That's true, it would be wasteful to throw it away.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、冷蔵庫に入れておくよ。jaa, reizouko ni irete oku yo.Then, I'll put it in the refrigerator.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
