Definition

1. Verb:
   • To waste / to squander: To use or expend something valuable (such as money, time, or resources) carelessly, extravagantly, or without a useful result.
   • To dissipate: To scatter or fritter away resources, especially wealth.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đừng xa phí thời gian vào những trò chơi vô bổ. (Don't waste time on useless games.)
  • Công ty bị cáo buộc xa phí tài nguyên thiên nhiên. (The company is accused of squandering natural resources.)
  • Anh ta đã xa phí toàn bộ gia tài trong một năm. (He dissipated his entire fortune in one year.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a strong negative judgment, implying not just ordinary spending but reckless and irresponsible consumption leading to loss.

Variants and Related Words

• Lãng phí (v): to waste. This is a more common and general synonym for "xa phí."

  • Lãng phí thức ăn là không tốt. (Wasting food is not good.)

• Phung phí (v): to squander, to be prodigal. Very similar in meaning and tone to "xa phí."

  • Phung phí tiền bạc vào cờ bạc. (To squander money on gambling.)

Synonyms

• Squander: To spend wastefully or extravagantly.
• Waste: To use or expend carelessly.
• Dissipate: To scatter or spend frivolously.
• Fritter away: To waste little by little.

Related Idioms

• Ăn tiêu xa phí: To spend lavishly and wastefully; to live a prodigal lifestyle.
  • Cậu ấy sống ăn tiêu xa phí với số tiền thừa kế. (He lives wastefully with his inheritance money.)