mottainai
Type: Concept
As of November 2026, mottainai has been mentioned in one podcast episode on TED-Ed (Jan 2026).
Mottainai is a Japanese phrase conveying a sense of regret over waste, or to state that one does not deserve something because it is too good. The term can be translated to English as "What a waste!" or the old saying, "Waste not, want not."
| Mentioned in | 1 episode on 1 podcast (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| First heard | Jan 2026 on TED-Ed |
Who talks about mottainai on podcasts?
mottainai came up; the most recent mention was Jan 2026 on TED-Ed.
What is mottainai mentioned alongside?
mottainai is most often mentioned alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tokugawa shogunate and nengu.
Mentioned together: Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tokugawa shogunate, nengu