もったいない
もったいない
i-adjective
wasteful, too good
1.
wasteful, a waste
The feeling that something shouldn't be wasted or thrown away.
もったいない！
What a waste!
時間がもったいない。
It's a waste of time.
食べ物を捨てるのはもったいない。
It's wasteful to throw away food.
もったいないから残さず食べなさい。
Don't waste it—eat everything.
Common parental instruction
2.
too good, more than one deserves
Feeling that something is too good or too much for oneself.
あの人にはもったいない。
It's too good for that person.
こんな素晴らしい贈り物はもったいないです。
This wonderful gift is too much for me.
Expressing humility
彼女は私にはもったいないくらいの人だと、いつも思っている。
I always think she's too good for someone like me.
もったいない is a uniquely Japanese concept related to respecting resources.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
- Reflects the value of not wasting resources
- Connected to traditional Japanese appreciation for things
- Made famous internationally as an environmental concept
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜のは/〜てはもったいない (it's wasteful to ~)
- 〜がもったいない (~ is a waste/too good)
- もったいないことをする (to waste something)
KANJI:
- Usually written in hiragana
- Can be written as 勿体無い or 勿体ない
USAGE NOTES:
- Used to avoid waste (food, time, money)
- Used in humble expressions (this is too good for me)
- Environmentally friendly concept