Too much: How to express excess in Japanese?

In general, the ending 〜すぎる[-sugiru] is attached to:

• the -masu stem of a verb

• the stem of an i-adjective

• The dictionary form of a na-adjective or adverb

Let's have a look at some examples!

When you use a word + 〜すぎる[-sugiru] in a sentence, you'll the ending just like the independent verb過ぎる[sugiru] which is a ru-verb . For example:

Here are some important characteristics of 〜すぎる[-sugiru] we should know!

• 〜すぎる[-sugiru] generally carries a negative connotation (i.e., the act or state is not desirable). In some cases, however, it can work as an exaggerated compliment , especially in casual comments. Let’s see how they work!

  👎= complaint / criticism
  👍= exaggerated compliment

  • 👎あの子はしゃべりすぎる。

    Ano ko wa shaberisugiru.

    That child talks too much.

  • 👍あの子、かわいすぎる！

    Ano ko, kawaisugiru!

    That child is sooo cute!

  • 👎 このラーメンはスープが辛すぎる。

    Kono rāmen wa sūpu ga karasugiru.

    As for this ramen, the soup is too spicy.

  • 👍このラーメン、スープがおいしすぎる！

    Kono rāmen, sūpu ga oishisugiru!

    As for this ramen, the soup is sooo delicious.

• 〜すぎる[-sugiru] is commonly used with the affirmative form of verbs and adjectives. However, it can sometimes be connected to the plain negative form of verbs and adjectives as well. Note that the negative ending 〜ない[-nai] changes to 〜なさ[-nasa] before すぎる[sugiru].

  Dictionary form	Plain negative form	Example
  言う iu to say	言わない iwanai not to say	言わなさすぎる iwanasasugiru to say too little
  おもしろい omoshiroi funny/interesting	おもしろくない omoshiroku nai not funny/interesting	おもしろくなさすぎる omoshiroku nasasugiru too boring lit. too uninteresting
  きれい きれい clean/beautiful	きれいじゃない kirei ja nai not clean	きれいじゃなさすぎる kirei ja nasasugiru too unclean lit. too uninteresting

  Here are some examples of when you might do this in a sentence:

  • affirmative + 〜すぎるnegative + 〜すぎる

    田中先生は冗談を言いすぎますが、山田先生は言わなさすぎます。

    Tanaka sensei wa jōdan o iisugimasu ga, Yamada sensei wa iwanasasugimasu.

    Prof. Tanaka tells too many jokes, but Prof. Yamada tells too few.

  • negative + 〜すぎる

    Speaker A:

    その映画、最後まで見たの？

    Sono eiga, saigo made mita no?

    Did you watch the whole movie?

    Speaker B:

    ううん、おもしろくなさすぎて、途中でねちゃったよ。

    U’un, omoshiroku nasasugite, tochū de nechatta yo.

    Nah, it was so boring (lit., “too uninteresting”) that I fell asleep in the middle of it.

• You'll most often make 〜すぎる[sugiru] itself negative, using the ending 〜すぎない[suginai], when you're giving a warning or advice, like this:

  affirmative + 〜すぎない

  虫歯になるから、甘いものを食べすぎないように。

  Mushiba ni naru kara, amai mono o tabesuginai yō ni.

  Don’t eat too many sweets because it could lead to cavities.

• We can use the 〜には〜すぎる[...ni wa…sugiru] structure to mean "too… for someone/something" like the examples below:

  • その本は私には難しすぎました。

    Sono hon wa watashi ni wa muzukashisugimashita.

    That book was too difficult for me.

  • この服、仕事にはカジュアルすぎると思う？

    Kono fuku, shigoto ni wa kajuaru sugiru to omou?

    Do you think this outfit is too casual for work?

• The type of excessiveness expressed by Verb + すぎる can vary in nature. Here are some examples. Please note that some sentences can be interpreted in multiple ways.

  • A momentary action done too intensely:

    あわてすぎて事故を起こさないようにね。

    Awatesugite jiko o okosanai yō ni ne.

    Don’t act too hastily and cause an accident.

  • An action done for too long:

    うちの子はテレビを見すぎる。

    Uchi no ko wa terebi o misugiru.

    Our child watches TV too much.

  • The action was done to too many things:

    脂っこいものを食べすぎると胸焼けがしますよ。

    Aburakkoi mono o tabesugiru to muneyake ga shimasu yo.

    If you eat too much greasy food, you’ll get a heartburn.

  • The action taken crossed a social line:

    さっきはちょっと言いすぎた。ごめん。

    Sakki wa chotto iisugita. Gomen.

    I said a bit too much a while ago. I’m sorry.

    → The speaker went too far and said something that crosses the line.

In formal grammar, 超[chō] is a prefix that attaches itself to a noun and expresses that something is beyond what is considered normal as in 超満員[chō manin](packed (when referring to trains, rooms, etc.)) or 超特急[chōtokkyū](super express (train)).

In colloquial Japanese, however, 超[chō] is often used along with adjectives as if it’s an adverb. The English equivalent is “super,” “very,” or “extremely.” In Japanese, it can be replaced with ものすごく[monosugoku](extremely) in conversations and 非常に[ hijōni](very; extremely) in formal speech or writing. Here are some examples:

• わあ、星が超きれい！(= ものすごくきれい)

  Wā, hoshi ga chō kirei! (= monosugoku kirei)

  Wow, the stars are super pretty!

• 健太のやつ、なまいき。超むかつく。(=ものすごくむかつく)

  Kenta no yatsu, namaiki. Chō mukatsuku. (=monosugoku mukatsuku)

  Kenta is being smart-alecky. It’s super annoying.

激[geki] is a 語素[goso](morpheme) that means “violent” or “extreme.” It creates a word along with another kanji as in 激流[gekiryū](powerful current) or 激論[gekiron](heated argument). In colloquial Japanese, it is sometimes used as a prefix that connects to the stem of some adjectives or the masu-form of verbs, expressing that some state is at an extreme level. Here are some examples!

• 激安

  gekiyasu

  super-low-price

  =

  ものすごく安い

  monosugoku yasui

  extremely inexpensive

  ネットで買った激安パソコン、すぐ壊れちゃったよ。

  Netto de katta gekiyasu pasokon, sugu kowarechatta yo.

  The super-low-price laptop I bought online broke down in no time, you know.

• 激うま

  geki uma

  super tasty

  =

  ものすごくうまい

  monosugoku umai

  extremely tasty

  このスープ、レシピには「 激うま」って書いてたけど、あんまりおいしくないね。

  Kono sūpu, reshipi ni wa “geki uma” tte kaiteta kedo, anmari oishikunai ne.

  The recipe for this soup said “super tasty,” but it’s not very tasty, is it?

神[kami] is a noun that primarily means “god” or “deity,” but it can also mean “great being” or “super-talented or skilled person.” In colloquial Japanese, it has started to be used like an adjective that expresses excellence or perfection. The English equivalent can be “perfect,” “godlike,” “genius,” etc. The Japanese synonym includes すばらしい[subarashii](terrific; amazing), 完璧な[kanpekina](perfect), and 非常に優れた[hijōni sugureta](supreme). Here are some phrases you may find online or social media:

• 神ゲー

  kami gē

  super fun games with exceptional contents and quality

• 神回

  kami kai

  an exceptionally well-crafted and entertaining episode in a serial dramas, anime, and manga

• 神対応

  kami taiō

  excellent customer service that goes way beyond normal expectation

• 神プレー

  kami purē

  a genius play

  Speaker A:

  ねえ、ねえ、昨日の試合見た？

  Nē, nē, kinō no shiai mita?

  Hey, did you see the game yesterday?

  Speaker B:

  見た、見た！メッシの神プレー、超すごすぎ！

  Mita, mita! Messhi no kami purē, chō sugosugi!

  I sure did! The godlike play by Messi was over the top!

In the example above, have you noticed that B uses three “excess” expressions in one short remark? We can surely do that when we are super excited in casual settings!