How to say "waste" in Japanese

• 無駄むだJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, na-adjectiveCovers waste in the sense of futility or pointlessness — effort that achieves nothing. Typical when saying something like 'that was a waste of time' because it produced no result at all.
  今更いまさら後悔こうかいしても無駄むだだ。↗

  It's no use regretting it now.
• くずJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounRefers to physical waste material: scraps, garbage, or dregs. It is the word for waste as refuse or leftover matter, not for wasting time or money, so it is seldom what you want for those senses.
  ラップは屑くずだ。↗

  Rap is crap.
• 無駄遣いむだづかいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbSpecifically waste or squandering of resources such as money or time — using them carelessly on things of little value. The natural choice for 'wasting money' or 'a waste of time' in the sense of squandering.
  なんてひどいむだ使づかいでしょう。↗

  What a fearful waste of money!
• 浪費ろうひJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveWaste in the sense of extravagance — spending or using resources lavishly and wastefully. Suited to contexts of extravagant consumption rather than mere futility or discarded material.
  それは確たしかに時間じかんの浪費ろうひです。↗

  It's certainly a waste of time.
• ロスCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA loanword covering loss, including waste of time. Common in contexts like wasted time or losses from inefficiency, though for general 'waste' other words above are usually the better fit.
  近道ちかみちを行おこなって時間じかんのロスを埋め合うめあわせるつもりだ。↗

  We are going to make up for lost time by taking a short cut.

Use 無駄 for uselessness or pointlessness, 「無駄遣い」 for squandering money or time, 浪費 for wasteful spending, 「ロス」 for loss or wasted time, and 「くず」 for physical waste or scraps.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 無駄むだfutility
• くずwaste
• 無駄遣いむだづかいwaste (of money, time, etc.)
• 浪費ろうひwaste
• ロスloss
• 廃品はいひんwaste
• 空費くうひwaste
• 汚物おぶつfilth (esp. excrement, feces, urine)
• 廃物はいぶつwaste material
• 不経済ふけいざいpoor economy
• 廃棄物はいきぶつwaste matter
• 消耗しょうもうexhaustion
• 荒廃こうはいruin
• ウェイストwaste
• 廃りすたりwaste
• 冗じょうwaste
• 棒に振るぼうにふるto waste
• 徒費とひwaste
• 無駄にするむだにするto render futile
• 上がり物あがりものfood offering
• ふいにするto lose completely
• ドブに捨てるどぶにすてるto throw down the drain
• 無にするむにするto bring to naught
• 費やすついやすto waste
• 損するそんするto waste (one's time, efforts, etc.)
• 廃材はいざいwaste
• 粗末にするそまつにするto waste
• やぶれspoilage
• 潰すつぶすto waste (e.g. talents)