Phrase in 30 Seconds
A sta degeaba means to spend time unproductively, whether by choice or because there is simply nothing to do.
- Means: To be idle or waste time without achieving anything.
- Used in: Complaining about coworkers, describing a lazy Sunday, or expressing boredom.
- Don't confuse: 'Degeaba' (in vain) with 'Gratis' (free of charge) in this context.
내 수준에 맞는 설명:
뜻
To spend time without being productive.
문화적 배경
In villages, 'a sta degeaba' is often seen as a moral failing. Neighbors might judge someone who is seen sitting on their porch for too long during harvest season. In modern offices, the phrase is used ironically to describe the 'quiet quitting' phenomenon or periods of corporate inefficiency. There is a shared Balkan concept of 'merak' or 'ceif' (pleasure/leisure) where 'sitting for nothing' is elevated to an art form of coffee-drinking and conversation. During communism, there was a saying: 'Noi ne facem că muncim, ei se fac că ne plătesc' (We pretend to work, they pretend to pay us). 'A sta degeaba' was a form of subtle rebellion.
Use it for self-care
Don't be afraid to use this phrase positively. 'Vreau să stau degeaba' is a perfectly valid way to say you need a break.
Careful with 'Degeaba'
Remember that 'degeaba' alone usually means 'it was for nothing/useless'. Always include 'a sta' if you mean idling.
Use it for self-care
Don't be afraid to use this phrase positively. 'Vreau să stau degeaba' is a perfectly valid way to say you need a break.
Careful with 'Degeaba'
Remember that 'degeaba' alone usually means 'it was for nothing/useless'. Always include 'a sta' if you mean idling.
The 'Bench' Culture
In Romania, sitting on a bench (a sta pe bancă) is a national pastime. It's the ultimate 'stătut degeaba' with a social purpose.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'a sta'.
Noi ______ degeaba în fața blocului de două ore.
'Noi' (we) requires the first person plural form 'stăm'.
Which sentence means 'I spent the whole day doing nothing'?
Select the correct past tense usage:
'Am stat' is the perfect compus (past tense) for 'I stayed'.
Match the phrase to the most likely situation.
Situation: You are at home on a Sunday with no chores.
This is a common, relaxed use of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: De ce nu ai terminat raportul? B: Pentru că am ______ degeaba toată dimineața, nu am avut chef.
The past participle 'stat' is needed after the auxiliary 'am'.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
5 연습 문제Noi ______ degeaba în fața blocului de două ore.
'Noi' (we) requires the first person plural form 'stăm'.
Select the correct past tense usage:
'Am stat' is the perfect compus (past tense) for 'I stayed'.
Situation: You are at home on a Sunday with no chores.
This is a common, relaxed use of the phrase.
A: De ce nu ai terminat raportul? B: Pentru că am ______ degeaba toată dimineața, nu am avut chef.
The past participle 'stat' is needed after the auxiliary 'am'.
🎉 점수: /5
자주 묻는 질문
4 질문It depends on who you say it to. Telling someone 'Stai degeaba!' is rude. Saying 'Stau degeaba' about yourself is just honest or relaxed.
Yes! You can say 'Mașina stă degeaba în garaj' (The car is sitting uselessly in the garage).
'A lenevi' specifically means to be lazy. 'A sta degeaba' is broader—you might be doing nothing because you have no choice.
You can say 'Stau degeaba' or 'Mă relaxez'. 'Stau degeaba' is more common for total inactivity.
관련 표현
A tăia frunză la câini
synonymTo cut leaves for the dogs.
A freca menta
synonymTo rub the mint.
A pierde timpul
similarTo waste time.
A trândăvi
specialized formTo lounge or loaf around.
어디서 쓸까?
At the office during a power outage
Coleg: Ce faci? De ce nu lucrezi?
Tu: Nu e curent, așa că stau degeaba.
Parent talking to a teenager
Mamă: Iar stai degeaba pe telefon?
Copil: Nu stau degeaba, învăț!
Waiting for a slow friend
Tu: Unde ești? Stau degeaba aici de o oră!
Prieten: Vin acum, scuze!
Planning a weekend
Prieten: Ce planuri ai pentru sâmbătă?
Tu: Nimic special, vreau doar să stau degeaba.
Job Interview (What to avoid)
Recrutor: Ce ați făcut în ultimul an?
Candidat: Sincer, am cam stat degeaba.
In a store with no customers
Vânzător 1: E foarte liniște azi.
Vânzător 2: Da, stăm degeaba de două ore.
암기하기
기억법
Think of a 'STAtue' (STA) that is 'DEad' (DEgeaba) weight—it just sits there doing nothing.
시각적 연상
Imagine a person sitting on a park bench with a giant zero (0) floating over their head, representing the 'nothing' (degeaba) they are producing.
Rhyme
Cine stă degeaba, nu-și termină treaba. (He who sits idly doesn't finish his work.)
Story
Stan is a lazy man. Every time his boss comes by, Stan is just sitting. His boss asks, 'What are you doing?' Stan says, 'I'm just staying (stau) for nothing (degeaba).' Now Stan is unemployed.
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'twiddling one's thumbs.' In French, 'se tourner les pouces.' Both involve small, useless hand movements while sitting.
Word Web
챌린지
Try to go through a whole day and notice every time you are 'stând degeaba.' Label the moment in Romanian: 'Acum stau degeaba.'
Review this phrase on a Sunday—the international day of 'stat degeaba.'
발음
Pronounced like 'star' but without the 'r'.
The 'ge' is soft like in 'gem'. The 'a' and 'ba' are short.
격식 수준 스펙트럼
În acest moment, nu am nicio activitate planificată. (General state)
Momentan nu fac nimic. (General state)
Stau degeaba acum. (General state)
O frec aiurea. (General state)
The phrase combines the verb 'a sta' (from Latin 'stare') and the adverb 'degeaba'. 'Degeaba' comes from 'de' + 'geaba'. 'Geaba' is a loanword from Turkish 'gebe' (originally meaning free/gift).
재미있는 사실
The word 'geaba' is still used on its own in some dialects to mean 'it's no use' or 'whatever'.
문화 노트
In villages, 'a sta degeaba' is often seen as a moral failing. Neighbors might judge someone who is seen sitting on their porch for too long during harvest season.
“Vecinii zic că Ion stă degeaba toată ziua.”
In modern offices, the phrase is used ironically to describe the 'quiet quitting' phenomenon or periods of corporate inefficiency.
“Azi stăm degeaba, serverul e picat.”
There is a shared Balkan concept of 'merak' or 'ceif' (pleasure/leisure) where 'sitting for nothing' is elevated to an art form of coffee-drinking and conversation.
“Stăm degeaba la o cafea.”
During communism, there was a saying: 'Noi ne facem că muncim, ei se fac că ne plătesc' (We pretend to work, they pretend to pay us). 'A sta degeaba' was a form of subtle rebellion.
“La fabrică, mulți stăteau degeaba.”
대화 시작하기
Îți place să stai degeaba în weekend?
Ai stat vreodată degeaba la un job?
Crezi că românii stau degeaba mai mult decât alte popoare?
자주 하는 실수
Stau gratis.
Stau degeaba.
L1 Interference
Mă stau degeaba.
Stau degeaba.
L1 Interference
Stau degeaba la doctor.
Aștept la doctor.
L1 Interference
Am degeaba stat.
Am stat degeaba.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Estar de brazos cruzados
Spanish uses a physical posture (crossed arms) to represent idleness.
Se tourner les pouces
French implies a repetitive, nervous action; Romanian implies a state of being.
Däumchen drehen
German has a specific verb for being lazy ('faulenzen') that isn't an idiom.
油を売る (Abura o uru)
Japanese uses a historical commercial metaphor.
يجلس بلا فائدة (Yajlis bila fā’ida)
The Arabic version is slightly more formal/descriptive.
混日子 (Hùn rìzi)
Chinese emphasizes the passage of time/days rather than the act of 'staying'.
빈둥거리다 (Bindung-georida)
Korean uses an onomatopoeic-style verb for the physical act of lounging.
Ficar de bobeira
Portuguese links idleness to 'silliness' or 'goofing off'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Degeaba stai, degeaba vii...”
A song about a relationship that is going nowhere.
“Mâna întinsă care nu spune o poveste nu primește pomană! Nu sta degeaba!”
A famous line about the 'art' of begging.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners think it always means 'idly'.
On its own, 'degeaba' usually means 'in vain' (e.g., 'Am muncit degeaba' = I worked in vain). Only with 'a sta' does it mean 'idly'.
Both can mean 'for nothing' in English.
Use 'gratis' for money/price. Use 'degeaba' for effort/purpose.
자주 묻는 질문 (4)
It depends on who you say it to. Telling someone 'Stai degeaba!' is rude. Saying 'Stau degeaba' about yourself is just honest or relaxed.
usage contextsYes! You can say 'Mașina stă degeaba în garaj' (The car is sitting uselessly in the garage).
grammar mechanics'A lenevi' specifically means to be lazy. 'A sta degeaba' is broader—you might be doing nothing because you have no choice.
comparisonsYou can say 'Stau degeaba' or 'Mă relaxez'. 'Stau degeaba' is more common for total inactivity.
practical tips
