Definition

1. Verb:
   • To waste: To use or expend something valuable (such as time, talent, or resources) carelessly, inefficiently, or without any useful result.
   • To squander: To allow something valuable to be lost or used without gaining any proper benefit from it.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đừng bỏ phí thời giờ của bạn. (Don't waste your time.)
  • Thật đáng tiếc khi bỏ phí tài năng như vậy. (It's a pity to waste talent like that.)
  • Cô ấy không muốn bỏ phí tuổi thanh niên. (She doesn't want to squander her youth.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "bỏ phí" often carries a tone of regret or criticism, implying that something precious is being lost due to negligence or poor judgment.
• It is commonly used with abstract nouns representing valuable, non-renewable commodities like time, opportunities, potential, or effort.

Variants and Related Words

• Lãng phí (v): to waste, to be wasteful. This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "bỏ phí," though it can sound slightly more formal.
  • Lãng phí thức ăn là không tốt. (Wasting food is not good.)

Synonyms

• Waste: To use or expend carelessly.
• Squander: To spend wastefully or extravagantly.
• Misspend: To spend time or money foolishly or improperly.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Bỏ phí cơ hội: to waste/miss an opportunity.
  • Anh ấy đã bỏ phí cơ hội vàng. (He wasted a golden opportunity.)
• Bỏ phí công sức: to waste one's effort.
  • Mọi công sức của chúng tôi đã bị bỏ phí. (All our effort was wasted.)

1. Waste
   • Bỏ phí thời giờ
     to waste one's time