過ぎる
Too much, Very
Structure
［い］Adjective［
［な］Adjective + すぎる
Negative:
Verb［
［い］Adjective［く］［
［な］Adjective + では(2)
(1) なさ
(2) じゃ
Explanation
The verb すぎる expresses the idea of 'exceeding' or 'going beyond a certain point'. When attached to other words, it adds the meaning of 'too much'. You can connect すぎる to the ます-stem of a verb, to an い-Adjective by dropping its final い, or to a な-Adjective by dropping the な.
- 昨日はケーキを食べすぎるとお腹が痛くなった。My stomach hurt yesterday because I ate too much cake.
- このジャケットは高すぎるから買えない。I can't buy this jacket because it's too expensive.
- このテストは簡単すぎると思う。I think this test is way too easy.
In casual conversation, it's very common to drop the final る from すぎる, leaving just すぎ. This colloquial form is frequently heard in daily speech and can be used with any word that normally attaches to すぎる.
- ここのラーメン、おいしすぎ！The ramen here is so unbelievably delicious!
There are a couple of special cases to be aware of when using すぎる. The first involves combining it with ない. When ない functions as an い-adjective, its final い must be changed to さ before adding すぎる, forming なさすぎる. This structure translates to 'not enough (A)'. In contrast, when ない is an auxiliary verb attached to another verb, the さ is typically omitted, creating なすぎる. (Note that adding さ after a verb is sometimes heard in very casual slang).
As with regular ない forms, では or じゃ will still be required when used after な-Adjectives.
- この部屋はきれいじゃなさすぎる。This room is just not clean enough. (Literally 'is too much not clean')
- 宿題をする時間がなさすぎる。I have nowhere near enough time to do my homework. (Literally 'I have too much of no time')
- 冷蔵庫に野菜がなすぎる。There are not nearly enough vegetables in the fridge. (Unnatural Japanese)
In the third example sentence above, the さ has been left out. This is grammatically incorrect, as the さ is mandatory whenever ない is used as a standalone い-adjective.
The second special rule applies when you want to say 'too good' by using すぎる with いい. Since すぎる attaches to the stem of an い-Adjective, you must use the irregular stem of いい, which is よ. Therefore, the correct form is よすぎる, not いすぎる.
- 今日の天気は良すぎるね。The weather today is almost too perfect, isn't it?
Caution
As すぎる is a verb itself, it can be conjugated into the negative form. This can be confusing for many learners and requires some practice. Let's examine the different ways すぎる can appear with ない.
- 彼は野菜を食べなさすぎるから、いつも病気だ。He's always sick because he doesn't eat enough vegetables. (Literally, he doesn't eat too much)
- 彼女は薬を飲まなさすぎないから大丈夫だ。She'll be fine because it's not like she doesn't take her medicine enough. (A double negative that implies she takes it sufficiently)
- そんなにたくさんお菓子を食べすぎないでください。Please don't eat too many snacks. (The negation applies to 'too much', expressing a gentle warning or request)
The meaning changes significantly based on the placement and number of ない forms in the sentence. It is important to pay close attention to these structures until you become comfortable with them.
Examples
この値段は高すぎる。
This price is too high.
その猫は可愛すぎる。
That cat is just too cute.
彼の態度は良くなさすぎた。
His attitude was just terrible.
(Literally - Was too much not good)
いつも小さいことを心配しすぎます。
I always worry too much about small things.
歩きすぎたから、足が疲れた。
Because I walked too much, my legs are tired.
図書館は静かすぎる。
The library is too quiet.
勉強しなさすぎたから、テストに落ちた。
I failed the test because I hardly studied at all. (Literally - I did too much of not studying)
このカレーは辛すぎるでしょう。
This curry is too spicy, don't you think?
昨日の試験は難しすぎました。
Yesterday's exam was too difficult.
ゲームをしすぎたから、目が痛い。
Because I played too many video games, my eyes hurt.
先月お金を使いすぎたので、節約しないと。
I spent too much money last month, so I have to save.
お酒を飲みすぎないでください。
Please don't drink too much alcohol.
コーヒーを飲みすぎたから眠れない。
Because I drank too much coffee, I can't sleep.