The first two characters, 浪费 (làngfèi), form a compound word meaning “to waste” or “to squander.” When you combine it with 时间 (shíjiān), the word for “time,” the meaning is a literal and straightforward “to wastefully spend time.”
The concept of 浪费时间 is taken quite seriously in Chinese culture, which traditionally places a high value on diligence, productivity, and self-improvement. There is a famous proverb that every student learns: 一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴 (yī cùn guāngyīn yī cùn jīn, cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāngyīn), which translates to “An inch of time is an inch of gold, but an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time.” This deeply ingrained idea frames time as a precious, non-renewable resource that must be used wisely. In contrast to some Western cultures where “wasting time” can be rebranded positively as “downtime,” “me-time,” or “relaxing,” the Chinese term 浪费时间 is almost exclusively negative. While relaxing (放松 fàngsōng) and resting (休息 xiūxi) are seen as necessary, activities perceived as truly aimless or unproductive are labeled a “waste.” This perspective often drives the emphasis on academic achievement and efficient work, as any time not spent productively can be seen as a loss.
浪费时间 is an extremely common phrase used in all registers of speech, from casual complaints to formal critiques.