Meaning
浪费 means to use something carelessly or inefficiently, resulting in unnecessary loss. It applies to wasting tangible resources like time, money, food, and water, as well as intangible things like opportunities and energy. As a noun, it refers to the act or state of waste itself.
Usage
浪费 carries a negative connotation and is commonly used to criticize inefficiency or extravagance. It frequently appears in environmental contexts and discussions about frugality. Common patterns include 浪费时间 (waste time), 浪费钱 (waste money), and 浪费资源 (waste resources). It can be intensified with 太 (too) or modified with 不要 (don't) in imperative sentences.
Examples
- 01不要浪费食物，很多人还在挨饿。, .Don't waste food; many people are still going hungry.
- 02在这个项目上浪费时间是不值得的。.Wasting time on this project is not worthwhile.
Characters
Common collocations
- 浪费时间to waste time
- 浪费金钱to waste money
- 浪费资源to waste resources
- 不要浪费don't waste
Antonyms
Origin
The character 浪 originally meant 'wave' but developed a sense of 'unrestrained' or 'excessive.' Combined with 费 (to spend/expend), the compound suggests spending resources as carelessly as waves scatter water.