Common Japanese word, MOTTAINAI in English
In Japanese language, you may notice a word of MOTTAINAI （もったいない） is often used.
MOTTAINAI is the important word for sustainable growth.
The meaning of MOTTAINAI can be changed depending on the situation.
What is the best expression of MOTTAINAI in English?
Let us take a look at the meaning of MOTTAINAI!
The best answer: MOTTAINAI is "too valuable"
There is no exact term of MOTTAINAI in English.
However, we can say:
MOTTAINAI is "too valuable"
This is the simplest and clearest phrase.
It makes easier to understand the meaning of MOTTAINAI in various occasions.
Here are the reasons of it.
Is MOTTAINAI English?
Wangarĩ Muta Maathai, who is the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. She made the huge effort for The MOTTAINAI Campaign, and the movement is still active.
Although her activities are really influenceable, unfortunately the word of MOTTAINAI is not on English dictionaries yet.
We should understand it still needs the time that MOTTAINAI is recognized as an English word.
What is the meaning of MOTTAINAI in Japanese?
Japanese-English dictionaries contain the definition of MOTTAINAI.
Let us take a look at this.
もったいない / 勿体ない
(MOTTAINAI)
adjectivejisho.org
- wasteful; a waste
- too good; more than one deserves; unworthy of
- impious; profane; sacrilegious
All the native Japanese people have the sense.
NAI of MOTTAINAI is the negation of MOTTAI.
What does MOTTAI mean?
もったい / 勿体
(MOTTAI)
Nounjisho.org
- superior airs; air of importance
- overemphasis
Mr. Tatsuo Nanai (The Mainichi Newspapers - Manager of MOTTAINAI Campaign office) explains the MOTTAINAI on the official webpage of Government of Japan.
"THE word mottainai comes from a Buddhist term mottai, which means 'undue importance,' along with the word nai, which denotes negation," says Tatsuo Nanai, the MOTTAINAI Campaign's chief of secretariat. "Thus, mottainai means 'without importance.' For example, to leave behind a grain of rice when eating is to waste it, to render it meaningless."
Tatsuo Nanai (Manager of MOTTAINAI Campaign office)
Read full article of "MOTTAINAI : Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - and Respect"
By Selena Hoy | © The Mainichi Newspapers
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
Examples of the expressions of MOTTAINAI
We can use the following expressions depending on the situations.
1. wasteful; a waste
It is a waste of time.
It is a waste of money.
We can rephrase using "too valuable":
It is too valuable to waste!
2. too good; more than one deserves; unworthy of
The gift is too great for me.
We can rephrase using "too valuable":
The gift is too valuable for me.
She is too good for him.
We know "too good" or "too worthy" is the preferred expression for a person or an action.
Although "too valuable" is not the exact term for a person, we can understand that the meaning of "too valuable" still a good criterion.
The usage in Japanese has been changed as well. MOTTAI was not for a person.
3. impious; profane; sacrilegious
I am truly humbled to get this prize.
We can apply "too valuable" in this case as well:
Receiving this prize is too valuable for me.
I hope you to understand the simplest and clearest phrase of MOTTAINAI from this article.
Thank you so much for reading!
