§ Understanding すぎる (sugiru)
The Japanese suffix すぎる (sugiru) is used to express that something is "too much" or "excessive." It's a really useful and common expression to master, as it allows you to comment on situations where things have gone beyond an appropriate or desirable level. Think of it as adding a sense of overdoing it to verbs, adjectives, and even some nouns. This isn't about being perfectly accurate with measurements; it's more about a general feeling that something is beyond what's good or normal.
You'll find yourself using すぎる when something is done to an extreme, like eating too much, working too hard, or when a price is too expensive. It's a direct way to convey that something is an overabundance or an exaggeration.
§ Connecting すぎる to verbs
When you want to say someone is doing something "too much," you attach すぎる to the stem of a verb. This is a crucial point for grammar. For most verbs, you'll remove the ます (masu) ending from the polite form to get the stem. For example, if the verb is 食べます (tabemasu, to eat), the stem is 食べ (tabe). Then you simply add すぎる.
- Grammar Point
- Verb stem + すぎる
食べすぎる (tabesugiru)
This means "to eat too much." Once you've attached すぎる, the whole thing acts like a regular verb itself, which means it will conjugate just like an Ichidan verb (verbs that end in -iru or -eru in their dictionary form). So, you can say 食べすぎます (tabesugimasu, eat too much, polite present), 食べすぎた (tabesugita, ate too much, plain past), or 食べすぎない (tabesuginai, don't eat too much, plain negative).
毎日働きすぎると、疲れますよ。
Translation hint: "If you work too much every day, you'll get tired." (毎日: every day, 働く: to work, 疲れます: get tired)
ちょっと飲みすぎたかもしれません。
Translation hint: "I might have drunk a little too much." (ちょっと: a little, 飲む: to drink, かもしれません: might be)
§ Connecting すぎる to adjectives
You can also use すぎる with both い-adjectives and な-adjectives to say something is "too [adjective]." The rules for attaching it are slightly different for each type.
- For い-adjectives: You drop the final い (i) and add すぎる.
- Grammar Point
- い-adjective (drop い) + すぎる
高い (takai, expensive) becomes 高すぎる (takasugiru)
This means "too expensive."
このかばんは私には高すぎます。
Translation hint: "This bag is too expensive for me." (この: this, かばん: bag, 私には: for me)
- For な-adjectives: You drop the な (na) and add すぎる.
- Grammar Point
- な-adjective (drop な) + すぎる
静かな (shizukana, quiet) becomes 静かすぎる (shizukasugiru)
This means "too quiet."
この部屋は静かすぎますね。
Translation hint: "This room is too quiet, isn't it?" (この: this, 部屋: room, ね: isn't it? / right?)
§ Using すぎる with nouns
While less common than with verbs and adjectives, you can also use すぎる with some nouns, especially those that imply a quantity or state. When used with nouns, it often means an "excess of" that noun or that something is "too much like" that noun. You typically connect it using の (no) or directly, depending on the noun and context. However, for A2 learners, focus on its use with verbs and adjectives first, as those are the most frequent and straightforward applications.
- Grammar Point (less common for A2)
- Noun + (の) + すぎる
勉強のしすぎはよくない。
Translation hint: "Too much studying is not good." (勉強: study, よくない: not good). Here, すぎ has become a noun itself: 勉強のしすぎ (benkyou no shisugi) means "the act of studying too much."
§ Common pitfalls and tips
One common mistake is forgetting to remove the い from い-adjectives or the な from な-adjectives. Always remember these small but important changes. Another point to note is that すぎる often carries a negative connotation, implying that the excess is undesirable. While it's not always negative (e.g., if you say something is too good, it's still an excess), in most practical uses, it highlights an issue.
Practice making sentences with different verbs and adjectives. The more you use it, the more natural it will feel. Try to describe your day using すぎる: "I woke up too early," "I watched too much TV," "This coffee is too hot." This hands-on practice will solidify your understanding.
How to Use It
When attached to the stem of an adjective or verb, すぎる indicates that something is "too much" or "excessive."
- For い-adjectives, drop the final い and attach すぎる.
例: 暑い (hot) -> 暑すぎる (too hot) - For な-adjectives, drop the な and attach すぎる.
例: 簡単な (simple) -> 簡単すぎる (too simple) - For verbs, use the ます-stem (remove ます) and attach すぎる.
例: 食べる (to eat) -> 食べすぎる (to eat too much)
It can be used with both positive and negative connotations, depending on context.
A common mistake is using the plain form of adjectives or verbs before すぎる. Remember to use the stem forms as described above.
Another mistake is forgetting to drop the い for い-adjectives or the な for な-adjectives. Make sure to transform the adjective correctly before attaching すぎる.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'sugi' as sounding a bit like 'super-gooey' or 'super-greedy' – something that's gone over the top, indicating 'too much.'
Visual Association
Imagine a giant pile of something overflowing – like a mountain of sweets, or a person buried under a stack of work. This visual represents 'too much' and can be linked to すぎる.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to describe five things around you that are 'too much' using すぎる. For example, 'This coffee is too hot' (このコーヒーは熱すぎる). Or, 'My phone is too old' (私の携帯は古すぎる).
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Describing an action done excessively.
- 食べすぎる (tabesugiru) - to eat too much
- 飲みすぎる (nomisugiru) - to drink too much
- 働きすぎる (hatarakisugiru) - to work too much
Describing something that is excessively a certain quality (adjective).
- 大きすぎる (ōkisugiru) - too big
- 小さすぎる (chiisasugiru) - too small
- 高すぎる (takasugiru) - too expensive/tall/high
Expressing that something is beyond a reasonable limit or expectation.
- 難しすぎる (muzukashisugiru) - too difficult
- 簡単すぎる (kantan sugiru) - too easy
- 多すぎる (ō sugiru) - too many/much
Warning someone not to do something excessively.
- 心配しすぎる (shinpai shisugiru) - to worry too much
- 考えすぎる (kangae sugiru) - to overthink
- 言いすぎる (iisugiru) - to say too much
Talking about things that are overly positive or negative, implying a downside.
- 親切すぎる (shinsetsu sugiru) - too kind (can imply being taken advantage of)
- 真面目すぎる (majime sugiru) - too serious (can imply inflexibility)
- 美味しすぎる (oishi sugiru) - too delicious (can imply eating too much)
Conversation Starters
"最近、何か食べすぎましたか？ (Saikin, nanika tabesugimashita ka?) - Have you eaten too much of anything recently?"
"この服は私には大きすぎませんか？ (Kono fuku wa watashi ni wa ōkisugimasen ka?) - Isn't this clothing too big for me?"
"働きすぎないように気をつけてくださいね。 (Hatarakisuginai yō ni ki o tsukete kudasai ne.) - Please be careful not to work too much."
"何か心配しすぎていることはありますか？ (Nanika shinpai shisugite iru koto wa arimasu ka?) - Is there anything you're worrying about too much?"
"このお店のラーメンは美味しすぎますね！ (Kono omise no rāmen wa oishisugimasu ne!) - The ramen at this shop is too delicious!"
Journal Prompts
今日、何かやりすぎたと感じたことはありますか？ (Kyō, nanika yarisugita to kanjita koto wa arimasu ka?) - Is there anything you felt you overdid today?
自分の性格で「〜すぎる」と思うところを３つ挙げてください。(Jibun no seikaku de '~sugiru' to omou tokoro o mittsu agete kudasai.) - Please list three aspects of your personality that you think are 'too much'.
もし、時間がありすぎたら何をしますか？ (Moshi, jikan ga arisugitara nani o shimasu ka?) - If you had too much time, what would you do?
最近、ストレスを感じることが多すぎますか？その原因は何だと思いますか？ (Saikin, sutoresu o kanjiru koto ga ō sugimasu ka? Sono gen'in wa nani da to omoimasu ka?) - Have you been feeling too much stress recently? What do you think is the cause?
あなたが思う「日本で一番高すぎるもの」は何ですか？ (Anata ga omou 'Nihon de ichiban takasugiru mono' wa nan desu ka?) - What do you think is the 'most expensive thing' in Japan?
Test Yourself 24 questions
Choose the correct way to say 'too hot' in Japanese:
To say 'too hot' with an i-adjective like 暑い (atsui), you drop the い (i) and add すぎる (sugiru).
Which sentence means 'The food is too delicious'?
For i-adjectives, drop the final い (i) and attach すぎる (sugiru).
How would you say 'This book is too difficult'?
For i-adjectives like 難しい (muzukashii), you remove the い (i) and add すぎる (sugiru).
You can use すぎる (sugiru) with verbs. For example, 食べすぎる (tabesugiru) means 'to eat too much'.
Yes, すぎる (sugiru) can be attached to the ます-stem of verbs to indicate 'doing something too much'.
To say 'too quiet' using the na-adjective 静か (shizuka), you would say 静かすぎる (shizukasugiru).
For na-adjectives, you remove the な (na) and attach すぎる (sugiru). So 静か (shizuka) becomes 静かすぎる (shizukasugiru).
You can add すぎる (sugiru) to a noun to mean 'too much of something'. For example, 水すぎる (mizusugiru) means 'too much water'.
While すぎる (sugiru) can be used with i-adjectives, na-adjectives, and verbs, it is generally not directly attached to nouns in this way. You would use different phrases to express 'too much water'.
このケーキは甘__ て、全部食べられません。
「すぎる」は形容詞や動詞の語幹に接続し、「～すぎる」で「～しすぎる、あまりにも～だ」という意味を表します。この文脈では、「甘い」という形容詞の語幹「甘」に「すぎる」が接続し、「甘すぎる」となります。
昨日は働き__ ので、今日はとても疲れています。
「すぎる」は動詞のマス形から「マス」を取った形に接続し、「～すぎる」で「～しすぎる、あまりにも～だ」という意味を表します。この文脈では、「働く」という動詞のマス形「働きます」から「マス」を取った「働き」に「すぎた」が接続し、「働きすぎた」となります。過去の出来事なので「すぎた」が適切です。
このコーヒーは熱__ て、すぐに飲めません。
「すぎる」は形容詞や動詞の語幹に接続し、「～すぎる」で「～しすぎる、あまりにも～だ」という意味を表します。この文脈では、「熱い」という形容詞の語幹「熱」に「すぎる」が接続し、「熱すぎる」となります。
彼はテレビゲームをやり__ て、宿題をしませんでした。
「すぎる」は動詞のマス形から「マス」を取った形に接続し、「～すぎる」で「～しすぎる、あまりにも～だ」という意味を表します。この文脈では、「やる」という動詞のマス形「やります」から「マス」を取った「やり」に「すぎた」が接続し、「やりすぎた」となります。過去の出来事なので「すぎた」が適切です。
このセーターは私には大き__ ます。
「すぎる」は形容詞や動詞の語幹に接続し、「～すぎる」で「～しすぎる、あまりにも～だ」という意味を表します。この文脈では、「大きい」という形容詞の語幹「大き」に「すぎ」が接続し、「大きすぎます」となります。
この本は難__ て、私には読めません。
「すぎる」は形容詞や動詞の語幹に接続し、「～すぎる」で「～しすぎる、あまりにも～だ」という意味を表します。この文脈では、「難しい」という形容詞の語幹「難し」に「すぎる」が接続し、「難しすぎる」となります。
Choose the correct way to say 'too cold'.
When using 'sugiru' with an i-adjective like 寒い (samui), you drop the final い (i) and attach すぎる (sugiru).
How would you say 'This book is too difficult'?
Similar to 'samui', you drop the final い from 難しい (muzukashii) before adding すぎる (sugiru).
Which sentence means 'I ate too much'?
For verbs, すぎる (sugiru) attaches to the stem (masu-stem without ます). The stem of 食べる (taberu) is 食べ (tabe).
The sentence 'このカバンは大きすぎます (kono kaban wa ooki sugimasu)' means 'This bag is too big'.
大きい (ookii) is an i-adjective, and dropping the final い to add すぎます (sugimasu) correctly forms 'too big'.
'飲みすぎる (nomisugiru)' means 'to drink too little'.
飲みすぎる (nomisugiru) means 'to drink too much', as すぎる (sugiru) indicates excess.
To say 'too quiet' using しずか (shizuka - quiet, a na-adjective), you would say しずかすぎる (shizuka sugiru).
For na-adjectives like しずか (shizuka), you attach すぎる (sugiru) directly after the adjective stem.
このケーキは甘___。
「甘い」は形容詞なので、語幹に「すぎる」をつけます。ここでは断定の形です。
彼は働き___から、いつも疲れている。
「働く」は動詞なので、マス形からマスを取った形に「すぎる」をつけます。
昨日、食べ___てお腹が痛い。
過去形なので「すぎた」を使います。前の動詞はマス形からマスを取った形になります。
この服は私には大き___。
「大きい」は形容詞なので、語幹に「すぎる」をつけます。ここでは断定の形です。
彼は飲み___て、次の日も酔っていた。
過去の状況なので「すぎた」を使います。前の動詞はマス形からマスを取った形になります。
このテレビ番組はうるさ___。
「うるさい」は形容詞なので、語幹に「すぎる」をつけます。ここでは断定の形です。
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Example
この本は高すぎる。
Related Content
Related Phrases
More general words
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
