How to say "worthless" in Japanese

• くだらないJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'worthless' as a dismissive judgment: the thing is silly, inane, and not worth bothering with. Typical of brushing off a film, book, remark, or idea as a waste of time.
  くだらない話はなしはもうたくさんだ。↗

  We have had enough of empty words.
• つまらないJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'worthless' as insignificant, unimportant, or trifling — something of little interest or weight. It also means 'dull, boring'; for 'worthless' in a material or monetary sense it is not the word you want.
  あの男おとこはよくつまらぬことで誰だれにでも因縁いんねんをつける。↗

  He often uses the slightest thing as a pretext for a fight with anybody.

For 'worthless' meaning silly and not worth bothering with, use 「くだらない」; for worthless in the sense of dull, unimportant, or trifling, 「つまらない」 fits; the two overlap for trivial things of little value.

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

• くだらないtrivial
• ぼろくそworthless
• しがないworthless
• 甲斐無いかいないworthless
• くたばりぞこないworthless (of a person)
• 半人はんにんuseless
• 取るに足りないとるにたりないof little importance
• 益体もないやくたいもないuseless
• しょうもないstupid
• 実もないみもないempty
• ろくでもないgood-for-nothing
• 一山いくらひとやまいくらdirt cheap
• 駄だpoor
• 不甲斐ないふがいないgood-for-nothing
• くだらんtrivial
• くだらぬtrivial
• やくざuseless
• つまらないinsignificant
• 腐れくされrotten
• 半人前はんにんまえinexperienced
• つまらぬinsignificant
• つまらんinsignificant