持(も)て余(あま)す

もてあます
godan verb
to have more than one can handle; to not know what to do with
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present持(も)て余(あま)す持(も)て余(あま)さない
Present polite持(も)て余(あま)します持(も)て余(あま)しません
Past持(も)て余(あま)した持(も)て余(あま)さなかった
Past polite持(も)て余(あま)しました持(も)て余(あま)しませんでした
て form持(も)て余(あま)して持(も)て余(あま)さなくて
ている present持(も)て余(あま)している持(も)て余(あま)していない
ている polite持(も)て余(あま)しています持(も)て余(あま)していません
ている past持(も)て余(あま)していた持(も)て余(あま)していなかった
ている past polite持(も)て余(あま)していました持(も)て余(あま)していませんでした
Conditional ば持(も)て余(あま)せば持(も)て余(あま)さなければ
Conditional たら持(も)て余(あま)したら持(も)て余(あま)さなかったら
Volitional持(も)て余(あま)そう—
Volitional polite持(も)て余(あま)しましょう—
Potential持(も)て余(あま)せる持(も)て余(あま)せない
Passive持(も)て余(あま)される持(も)て余(あま)されない
Causative持(も)て余(あま)させる持(も)て余(あま)させない
Imperative持(も)て余(あま)せ持(も)て余(あま)すな
1. to have more than one can handle; to not know what to do with
to find something too much to deal with or manage, often leading to neglect
時間(じかん)を持(も)て余(あま)している。
I have time on my hands.
体力(たいりょく)を持(も)て余(あま)す元気(げんき)な子(こ)だ。
The energetic child has more energy than they know what to do with.
広(ひろ)すぎる家(いえ)を持(も)て余(あま)している。
They don't know what to do with such a large house.

持(も)て余(あま)す describes having something that is too much to handle or use effectively.

VERB TYPE:

  • Godan verb (す-verb)
  • Transitive

ETYMOLOGY:

  • 持(も)てる (potential of 持(も)つ: to hold) + 余(あま)す (to have left over)
  • Literally: to have excess of what one can hold

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 時間(じかん)を持(も)て余(あま)す (to have time on one's hands)
  • 体力(たいりょく)を持(も)て余(あま)す (to have excess energy)
  • 才能(さいのう)を持(も)て余(あま)す (to waste one's talent)
  • 暇(ひま)を持(も)て余(あま)す (to not know what to do with free time)

USAGE PATTERNS:

  • Often used with abstract nouns (time, energy, talent)
  • Can describe both positive (too much talent) and negative (can't handle) situations
  • 持(も)て余(あま)している is very common (ongoing state)

NUANCE:

  • Implies slight frustration or inability to utilize fully
  • Different from simply "having extra" - implies a burden or waste
  • Often used for things that should be useful but are not being used well

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • 暇(ひま)をつぶす (to kill time)
  • 使(つか)い切(き)れない (can't use up)
  • 手(て)に余(あま)る (to be beyond one's ability)

REGISTER: Neutral. Common in everyday conversation.

general
Added 2026.1.22 21:04
07500/07925_moteamasu