Illustration: In an apartment kitchen, a teenager holds a whole apple over an open rubbish bin because of one tiny brown bruise. His grandmother catches his wrist with an alarmed expression and presents a small plate with her free hand.

JLPT N3i-adjectiveLevel estimated by Bebop

もったいない

mottainai

wasteful, a waste

It can also mean 'too good for me' in other contexts. Note written by AI.

Example sentences

とてもいい天気てんきだから家いえの中なかにいるのがもったいない。
It’s too sunny to stay inside.
Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · Source
この土地とちを遊あそばせておくのはもったいない。
It’s wasteful to leave the land lying idle.
Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · Source
せっかく弁護士べんごしの資格しかくがあるのにもったいない。
What a waste of your lawyer qualifications!
Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · Source

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