B1 Proverb Formell

無用の長物

muyou no choubutsu

Useless long object

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Describes something that is technically present but ultimately useless or a burden.

  • Means: An object or idea that is redundant and serves no practical purpose.
  • Used in: Describing clutter, unnecessary features in software, or outdated office equipment.
  • Don't confuse: Don't use it for things that are simply 'broken'; it must be 'useless despite being functional'.
Useless object + extra space = 無用の長物

Explanation at your level:

It means something you don't need. It takes up space. It is not useful.
This phrase describes things that are useless. Even if you have them, they don't help you. They are just in the way.
Use this when you have an object that is redundant. It is not broken, but it serves no purpose. It is often used to describe clutter or unnecessary features in products.
This idiom refers to items that are technically functional but practically redundant. It implies that the item's presence is a burden rather than an asset, often used in professional or analytical contexts to describe inefficiency.
An idiomatic expression denoting an entity that, while existing, lacks utility to the point of becoming a hindrance. It is frequently employed in discourse regarding minimalism, product design, and the critique of superfluous features.
A sophisticated term characterizing the ontological status of an object that has transitioned from utility to redundancy. It captures the tension between possession and function, often utilized in literary or formal critiques to highlight the burden of material excess.

Bedeutung

Something that is redundant or serves no practical purpose.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Reflects the aesthetic of 'Ma' (space).

💡

Use in formal settings

It sounds very smart in meetings.

Bedeutung

Something that is redundant or serves no practical purpose.

💡

Use in formal settings

It sounds very smart in meetings.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.

この古い機械は今や＿＿＿＿だ。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 無用の長物

The phrase describes something that is redundant.

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1 Fragen

No, it is only for objects.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

宝の持ち腐れ

contrast

Wasted talent/treasure.

Wo du es verwendest

🧹

Cleaning the house

A: この古いテレビ、どうする？

B: もう壊れてるし、無用の長物だね。捨てよう。

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Long' (長) 'Thing' (物) that is 'No Use' (無用) and is blocking your door!

Visual Association

A giant, heavy, golden sword sitting in a tiny studio apartment. It's beautiful but you can't walk around it.

Story

Ken bought a massive, 10-foot long sofa for his tiny room. He couldn't even open the door. He realized it was a '無用の長物'. He had to sell it the next day.

Word Web

無用長物邪魔不要無駄余計

Herausforderung

Identify 3 things in your room that are '無用の長物' and explain why in Japanese.

In Other Languages

English high

White elephant

White elephant implies cost; 無用の長物 implies redundancy.

Spanish moderate

Un trasto inútil

Register is more casual in Spanish.

French moderate

Un encombrement

Focuses on space rather than the object's nature.

German moderate

Ein nutzloser Gegenstand

Very literal compared to Japanese.

Chinese high

无用的长物

Almost identical in meaning and origin.

Korean high

무용지물

Korean omits the 'long' part, focusing on 'useless thing'.

Arabic moderate

شيء لا فائدة منه

Lacks the metaphorical 'long' element.

Portuguese moderate

Um trambolho

Very similar in the 'bulky' nuance.

Easily Confused

無用の長物 vs. 宝の持ち腐れ

Both imply 'not using something'.

宝の持ち腐れ = It's valuable but unused. 無用の長物 = It's useless.

FAQ (1)

No, it is only for objects.

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