Activities: How to express excess in Japanese?
Activity 1: Form sentences with 〜すぎる
Let’s review how to form a sentence with 〜すぎる! Complete each sentence below by using the word given along with すぎる. Make sure to change the shape of the given word and/or that of すぎる according to the English translation.
👉 For #1 through #5, you can use either the plain or polite style of speech.
読む[yomu](to read)
妹は本を。
Imōto wa hon o ___.
My younger sister reads books too much.狭い[semai](small; narrow)
そのアパートは台所が。
Sono apāto wa daidokoro ga ___.
As for that apartment, the kitchen was too small.いい[ii](good; nice)
弟は頭が。
Otōto wa atama ga ___.
My younger brother is too smart.ない[nai](to not exist)
うちの犬はこのごろ元気が。
Uchi no inu wa konogoro genki ga ___.
Our dog looks too depressed lately.静か[shizuka](quiet)
ふるさとの町は私には。
Furusato no machi wa watashi ni wa ___.
My hometown was too quiet for me.のんびり[nonbiri](leisurely)
上司から仕事のペースがと注意された。
Jōshi kara shigoto no pēsu ga ___ to chūi sareta.
My boss warned me that I work too leisurely.使う[tsukau](to use)
スマホは便利だけど、ようにね。
Sumaho wa benri da kedo, ___ yō ni ne.
A smartphone is convenient, but please don’t overuse it.
Activity 2: Choose the best option
Complete each sentence by choosing the correct form in parentheses. There might be a case where both options can be correct!
- このいちごは（ すっぱ / すっぱい ）すぎる！ハチミツをかけて食べよう。
Kono ichigo wa (suppa / suppai) sugiru! Hachimitsu o kakete tabeyō.
These strawberries are too sour! Let’s eat them with honey. - 今月は服を（ 買う / 買い ）すぎた。来月は倹約しなければ・・・。
Kongetsu wa fuku o (kau / kai) sugita. Raigetsu wa kenyaku shinakereba….
I bought too many pieces of clothes this month. I’ve got to be careful with my spending next month…. - 期末試験前なのはわかるけど、あまり勉強（ しすぎない / しすぎる ) ようにね。
Kimatsu shiken mae nano wa wakaru kedo, amari benkyō (shisuginai / shisugiru) yō ni ne.
I know that you are facing the semester finals, but don’t study too hard, OK? - えっ、残業が一週間に２０時間？それは（ 働きすぎる / 働きすぎ ）ですよ。
E, zangyō ga isshūkan ni nijū jikan? Sore wa (hatarakisugiru / hatarakisugi) desu yo.
What, are you working overtime twenty hours per week? That’s too much work for you. A: この駅前のマンションはいかがですか。とても便利ですよ。
Kono ekimae no manshon wa ikaga desu ka. Totemo benri desu yo.
How about this station-front condo? It’s very convenient.B: うーん、家賃が月７万円でしょう？（ 私に / 私には ）ちょっと高すぎます。
Ūn, yachin ga tsuki nanaman en deshō? (Watashi ni / watashi ni wa) chotto takasugimasu.
Hmm, the rent is seventy thousand yen per month, right? It’s a bit too high for me.A: あれ、今朝はジョギングしないんですか。
Are, kesa wa jogingu shinai n desu ka.
Oh, aren’t you going for a jog this morning?B: ええ、きのう（ 走りすぎだった / 走りすぎた ）ので、膝が痛くて・・・。
Ee, kinō (hashirisugidatta / hashirisugita) node, hiza ga itakute….
No, I ran too much yesterday, so my knees hurt….A: うちのいとこ、毎日ゲームを７時間以上やってるんだって。
Uchi no itoko, mainichi gēmu o shichiji jikan ijō yatteru n datte.
I’ve heard that our cousin plays games for more than seven hours every day.B: ふーん、ちょっと（ やりすぎだ / やりすぎてる ）よね。
Fūn, chotto (yarisugi da / yarisugiteru) yo ne.
Hmm, he’s doing a bit too much, isn’t he?
Activity 3: Complete the story
It's story time! You are rewriting a story of Goldilocks and Three Bears in Japanese. Let’s finish the following part, using 〜すぎる! You can also use adjectives in the word bank. Don’t forget to conjugate those adjectives and すぎる and/or add particles as needed!
👉 Bonus activities:
AFTER finishing the above task, you may try a casual “fun” translation for #3 and #4, using colloquial expressions. (The one that starts with ち probably fits the best here!)
You may also use different nouns and adjectives to create a totally new version of the classic story! Enjoy!
- JapaneseTranscriptionTranslation
あつい (熱い)
atsui
hot (to touch)
つめたい (冷たい)
tsumetai
cold (to touch)
おんなのこ (女の子)
on’na no ko
girl
女の子は三匹のくまの家に入りました。
On’na no ko wa sanbiki no kuma no ie ni hairimashita.
The girl went into the house of the three Bears.テーブルの上におかゆが三つありました。
Tēburu no ue ni okayu ga mittsu arimashita.
There are three bowls of porridge on a table.大きいくまのおかゆは。
Ōkii kuma no okayu wa ___.
The Big Bear’s porridge was too hot for the girl.中くらいのくまのおかゆは。
Chūkurai no kuma no okayu wa ___.
The Middle-sized Bear’s porridge was too cold for the girl.小さいくまのおかゆはし、。
Chiisai kuma no okayu wa ___ shi, ___.
The Little Bear’s porridge was neither too hot nor too cold.そこで女の子はそのおかゆを全部食べてしまいました。
Sokode on’na no ko wa sono okayu o zenbu tabete shimaimashita.
So the girl ate the porridge all up.
