Learn Hardcore German: Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung.

Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung.
Emphasis on für mich – you’re highlighting that this is your personal view, possibly in contrast to others.
Das ist nur Zeitverschwendung für mich.
More neutral word order; the focus is more on das (this/that).

Starting with Für mich is a common way to make it sound like “As far as I’m concerned…”

What case is mich, and why not mir?

Mich is in the accusative case.

The key rule: für always takes the accusative.

für mich = for me (accusative)
für dich, für ihn, für sie, für uns, für euch, für sie/Sie

Even though in English “for me” often feels like an indirect object, in German für never uses mir (dative).
Für mir is always wrong; it must be für mich.

What exactly does nur mean here?

Nur literally means only, but in this context it’s closer to just / merely.

Für mich ist das Zeitverschwendung.
For me, that is a waste of time. (neutral statement)
Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung.
For me, that’s just a waste of time / nothing but a waste of time. (more dismissive)

So nur downplays the value of the activity and adds a slightly negative or dismissive tone.

What does Zeitverschwendung mean as a word? Is it a compound?

Yes, Zeitverschwendung is a compound noun:

Zeit = time
Verschwendung = waste / squandering

So Zeitverschwendung literally = waste of time.

Details:

Gender: die Zeitverschwendung (feminine)
Plural: die Zeitverschwendungen (rare; usually used in the singular)
As a noun, it is capitalized in German: Zeitverschwendung

Why is the verb ist in the second position after Für mich?

German main clauses follow the verb-second (V2) rule:

The conjugated verb must be in second position in the sentence.
“Second position” means second element, not second word.

In Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung:

Für mich = first element (a prepositional phrase)
ist = second element (the verb)
das nur Zeitverschwendung = the rest

If you start the sentence with Das, it’s the same rule:

Das ist für mich nur Zeitverschwendung.
(Das = first element, ist = second element)

Could I also say Das ist nur Zeitverschwendung für mich? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can. It is correct and common.

Comparison:

Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung.
Slightly more emphasis on “for me personally”.
Das ist nur Zeitverschwendung für mich.
Slightly more neutral; the focus starts with das.

In most everyday contexts, they mean the same and are interchangeable. The choice mainly affects spoken emphasis and nuance.

Why is it das and not es here?

Both are possible, but they’re used slightly differently:

Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung.
Das usually refers to a specific, identifiable thing or situation:
“That thing we’re talking about is just a waste of time for me.”
Für mich ist es nur Zeitverschwendung.
Es is more of a neutral it, and can sound a bit more general.

In real conversations, das is very common because people are usually reacting to something concrete (an idea, a plan, an activity) that’s just been mentioned.

Can I say nur eine Zeitverschwendung with an article?

Yes, you can say:

Für mich ist das nur eine Zeitverschwendung.

This is grammatically correct. The difference is tiny in meaning:

nur Zeitverschwendung
Very general: “just a waste of time” (as a mass concept)
nur eine Zeitverschwendung
More like: “just a waste of time (one of many such things)”

In practice, nur Zeitverschwendung (without eine) is more common and sounds more natural here.

How would I say For me, it’s not a waste of time?

Use keine Zeitverschwendung:

Für mich ist das keine Zeitverschwendung.

Explanation:

kein(e) negates nouns that would otherwise have ein/eine or no article.
You would not say nicht Zeitverschwendung here; that sounds wrong.

Pattern:

Das ist Zeitverschwendung. → Das ist keine Zeitverschwendung.

Where else can nur go in the sentence, and does the meaning change?

Some common variants and their nuances:

Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung.
Default: only the activity itself is a waste of time (for me).
Für mich ist das Zeitverschwendung, nur. (spoken, with pause)
Sounds like an afterthought or softening; less common in writing.
Das ist für mich nur Zeitverschwendung.
Same meaning, different emphasis; focus starts on das.
Das ist nur für mich Zeitverschwendung.
Now nur modifies für mich →
“It’s a waste of time only for me (but maybe not for others).”

So moving nur can change what is being limited:

Before Zeitverschwendung → what it is (just a waste of time)
Before für mich → for whom it’s the case (only for me)

Is this sentence polite or rude? In what context would you use it?

Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung is informal and quite direct. Tone depends on context and voice, but it can definitely come across as dismissive.

Typical uses:

With friends or colleagues:
“I’m not interested; I think it’s just a waste of time.”
In a debate: strongly rejecting an idea or proposal.

You’d normally avoid saying this bluntly:

To your boss in a sensitive situation
In formal writing or very polite contexts

A softer version would be:

Für mich lohnt sich das nicht wirklich.
(“For me, it’s not really worth it.”)
Für mich ist das nicht so sinnvoll.
(“For me, that’s not very meaningful/useful.”)

How do you pronounce Für mich ist das nur Zeitverschwendung?

Key points:

Für:
- ü like in French lune or saying “ee” with rounded lips.
- Sounds roughly like “fyur” in English approximation.
mich:
- ch here is the soft German sound (like in ich), not like English “k”.
- Made with air flowing over the middle of the tongue, near the palate.
Zeit:
- z is pronounced ts → [tsait], like “tsite”.
Verschwendung:
- Ver- like “fair”
- -schw- like “shv”
- Stress on schwén: ver-SCHWEN-dung

Primary word stress:

FÜR mich ist das nur ZEITverschWEN-dung
Stronger stresses on mich, Zeit, and SCHWEN.