空費|くうひkuuhi[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbwaste; wastefulness
    彼かれは空費くうひした時間じかんを取り返とりかえそうとした。↗
    He tried to make up for lost time.
Conjugation
Dictionary form空費する(くうひする)
Polite (masu)空費します(くうひします)
Negative (nai)空費しない(くうひしない)
polite (masen)空費しません(くうひしません)
classical zu / nu空費せず・空費せぬ(くうひせず・くうひせぬ)
Past (ta)空費した(くうひした)
polite (mashita)空費しました(くうひしました)
Past negative (nakatta)空費しなかった(くうひしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)空費しませんでした(くうひしませんでした)
Te form空費して(くうひして)
Potential空費できる(くうひできる)
Passive空費される(くうひされる)
Causative空費させる(くうひさせる)
Causative passive空費させられる(くうひさせられる)
Conditional (ba)空費すれば(くうひすれば)
tara空費したら(くうひしたら)
Volitional空費しよう(くうひしよう)
polite (mashou)空費しましょう(くうひしましょう)
Imperative空費しろ(くうひしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym浪費ろうひNeutralThe general, most common word for waste, as in 「時間の浪費」. 「空費」 is more literary and means wasting something in vain, especially time or effort.
  • Synonym無駄遣いむだづかいNeutralColloquial term for wasting money, as in 「お金の無駄遣い」; use this in everyday speech instead of 「空費」.
  • Synonym徒費とひWrittenWritten word for wasting something in vain; rare. Closest in meaning to 「空費」, which is likewise formal.
  • Related不経済ふけいざいNeutralMeans uneconomical or wasteful, as in 「不経済なやり方」; the focus is on efficiency rather than on squandering.
  • Related無駄むだNeutralThe everyday word for uselessness or futility, as in 「無駄な努力」; broader than 「空費」 and far more common in speech.
  • Related乱費らんぴWrittenWritten word for reckless squandering, mainly of money, as in 「公金の乱費」. 「空費」 covers time and effort too.
  • Related蕩尽とうじんWrittenWritten word for squandering away the family fortune, typically through dissolute living; much narrower than 「空費」.
  • Related冗費じょうひWrittenWritten word for unnecessary expense, as in 「冗費削減」; limited to money, while 「空費」 also covers time and effort.
  • Antonym節約せつやくNeutralAntonym: economising or saving by cutting out waste; contrasts with 「空費」, which is about wasting time or effort outright.
  • Antonym有効利用ゆうこうりようNeutralAntonym: putting things or time to effective, waste-free use — the direct opposite of 「空費」.

For general waste use 「浪費」; for wasting money in daily speech, 「無駄遣い」. 「空費」 is a written word for squandering time or effort, as in 「時間を空費する」. For profligate spending, 「乱費」; for saving, 「節約」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 無駄むだに使つかうこと。浪費ろうひすること。
Kanji in this word
See also

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