持て余す
もてあます
verb (godan)
to have more than one can handle; to not know what to do with
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 持て余す | 持て余さない |
| Present polite | 持て余します | 持て余しません |
| Past | 持て余した | 持て余さなかった |
| Past polite | 持て余しました | 持て余しませんでした |
| て form | 持て余して | 持て余さなくて |
| ている present | 持て余している | 持て余していない |
| ている polite | 持て余しています | 持て余していません |
| ている past | 持て余していた | 持て余していなかった |
| ている past polite | 持て余していました | 持て余していませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 持て余せば | 持て余さなければ |
| Conditional たら | 持て余したら | 持て余さなかったら |
| Volitional | 持て余そう | — |
| Volitional polite | 持て余しましょう | — |
| Potential | 持て余せる | 持て余せない |
| Passive | 持て余される | 持て余されない |
| Causative | 持て余させる | 持て余させない |
| Imperative | 持て余せ | 持て余すな |
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
持て余す describes having something that is too much to handle or use effectively.
Transitivity
- Godan verb (す-verb)
- Transitive
Etymology
- 持てる (potential of 持つ: to hold) + 余す (to have left over)
- Literally: to have excess of what one can hold
Common collocations
- 時間を持て余す (to have time on one's hands)
- 体力を持て余す (to have excess energy)
- 才能を持て余す (to waste one's talent)
- 暇を持て余す (to not know what to do with free time)
Common patterns
- Often used with abstract nouns (time, energy, talent)
- Can describe both positive (too much talent) and negative (can't handle) situations
- 持て余している is very common (ongoing state)
Usage
- 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 words
Register: Neutral. Common in everyday conversation.