Definition

1. Verb phrase (colloquial, often critical):
   • To waste money; to squander resources: To spend money or use valuable things in a careless, unnecessary, or foolish way, resulting in loss.
   • To be a waste of something good: To use a valuable item or resource for an unworthy purpose, implying the item deserves better.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Mua cái túi đắt tiền đó chỉ để xách một lần là phí của. (Buying that expensive bag just to carry it once is a waste of money.)
  • Để món ăn ngon như vậy mà không ai ăn thì thật phí của. (Leaving such delicious food uneaten is truly a waste.)
  • Anh ta phí của bố mẹ khi bỏ học giữa chừng. (He wasted his parents' resources by dropping out of school.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a strong tone of criticism or regret about inefficient or irresponsible use. It can refer to tangible objects (food, gadgets) or intangible investments (time, effort, money).
• It is commonly used in exclamations to express that something is not worth the cost or effort.
  • Phí của quá! (What a waste!)

Variants and Related Words

• Lãng phí (v): to waste, to squander (more formal and general).

  • Lãng phí thời gian. (To waste time.)

• Phí phạm (v): to waste, to be wasteful (similar to "lãng phí").

  • Phí phạm tiền bạc. (To waste money.)

Synonyms

• Squander: To waste something, especially money or time, in a reckless manner.
• Waste: To use or expend carelessly or without adequate return.
• Misspend: To spend time or money foolishly or improperly.

Related Idioms

• Tiền mất tật mang: Literally "money lost, illness remains"; meaning to suffer a double loss (e.g., wasting money and gaining nothing or getting worse).

  • Mua thuốc giả không khỏi bệnh, đúng là tiền mất tật mang. (Buying fake medicine and not getting cured is truly a waste of money and health.)

• Ném tiền qua cửa sổ: Literally "to throw money out the window"; meaning to waste money completely.

  • Đầu tư vào dự án đó chẳng khác nào ném tiền qua cửa sổ. (Investing in that project is no different from throwing money out the window.)