waste time 是英语中表达“浪费时间”的核心短语，音标为 /weɪst taɪm/。它既可以描述无意义地消耗时间，也可指在低效事务上投入精力，常见于日常对话和书面语中。

用法与搭配

动词搭配

waste time on sth./sb.：在某事/某人身上浪费时间。例如："Don't waste time on domestic trivialities."（不要在家常琐事上浪费时间）。

waste time (in) doing sth.：浪费时间做某事，其中介词 in 可省略。例如："Tom never wastes too much time playing computer games."（汤姆从不在玩电脑游戏上浪费太多时间）。

名词搭配
作为名词时，常用 a waste of time 结构，表示“浪费时间的事”。例如："It's a waste of time talking to him."（和他谈话是浪费时间）。

例句

"Why waste time and energy on something so hopeless?"（为什么要在这种毫无希望的事情上浪费时间和精力？）

"Don't waste time thinking back to what you could have done differently yesterday."（不要浪费时间回想昨天本可以做的改变）

"I went into medicine to care for patients, not to waste time bickering over budgets."（我行医是为了治病救人，而非浪费时间争论预算）

"No one knows for certain when the stock market is at an absolute bottom, so you shouldn't waste time trying to guess."（没人能确定股市何时触底，别浪费时间猜测）

"Rather than waste time pursuing a final peace settlement, set more modest goals."（与其浪费时间寻求最终和平解决方案，不如设定更实际的目标）

"She learned to say things with her eyes that others waste time putting into words."（她学会用眼神表达，而别人却浪费时间用语言描述）

"You no longer have to waste time worrying what other people think about you."（你不必再浪费时间担心他人对你的看法）

"Don't waste time debating whether the building is on fire. Get out at the first sign of danger."（别浪费时间争论大楼是否着火，发现危险立即撤离）

"I won't waste time on preliminaries—you all know why I'm here."（我不浪费时间寒暄，你们都知道我来的目的）

"His last words: 'Don't waste time in mourning. Organise!'"（他的遗言：“不要浪费时间哀悼，行动起来！”）

无论是避免低效行为还是强调时间价值，waste time 都是简洁有力的表达。下次想提醒他人珍惜时间时，不妨试试 "Don't waste time—every second counts!"（别浪费时间，每一秒都很重要）。