もて余す

• Reading: もてあます
• Romaji: moteamasu
• Kanji breakdown: 余 (yo/ama) — surplus, excess, to leave over
• Pronunciation: /mo.te.a.ma.sɯ/

Meaning

To be at a loss about how to handle; to be unable to deal with; to have more of something than one can manage.

A Group 1 (godan) verb. Used when someone has more of something — energy, time, ability, a troublesome person — than they can effectively manage. The verb もてる (to handle) + 余す (to have left over) creates the sense of an unmanageable surplus. Often appears as もて余している or もて余した.

Examples

1. 休日に時間をもて余し、何をするか決められなかった。 I had too much time on my hands during the holiday and couldn't decide what to do.
2. 扱いきれない部下をもて余した上司が人事部に相談した。 The manager, unable to handle a difficult subordinate, consulted the HR department.
3. 子どもたちがエネルギーをもて余して走り回っている。 The children are running around with more energy than they know what to do with.

Usage Guide

Context: time management, workplace, parenting, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of もてる (to handle, to treat) and 余す (to leave over, to have in excess). The image is of having more than one can handle, leaving a surplus that overwhelms one's capacity to manage.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal