〜すぎる

〜すぎる is an adjective pattern expressing too much ~. Japanese adjectives conjugate for tense and negation unlike English adjectives, making them more similar to verbs. Understanding adjective patterns allows you to describe qualities, states, and degrees with precision.

This is a foundational pattern that you will use from day one of your Japanese studies.

Formation#

Attach すぎる to the verb ます-stem or adjective stem.

When to Use#

• Excess quantity: 食べすぎた (I ate too much)
• Excess degree: 高すぎる (It's too expensive)
• Warning against excess: 飲みすぎないでね (Don't drink too much)

When NOT to Use#

• When the meaning is closer to "easy to / hard to" — use 〜やすい / 〜にくい instead
• In very formal writing where a more sophisticated expression would be expected

Example Sentences#

• この靴は大きすぎます。 — These shoes are too big.
• 夕食を食べすぎました。 — I ate too much dinner.
• 砂糖を入れすぎました。 — I added too much sugar.

Practice#

Try reading these sentences aloud, then check the translation and vocabulary:

Common Mistakes#

1. Confusing 〜すぎる with 〜やすい / 〜にくい — While both are related, 〜すぎる expresses "too much ~" whereas 〜やすい / 〜にくい expresses "easy to / hard to." Pay attention to the specific nuance each pattern conveys.
2. Direct translation from English — The concept expressed by 〜すぎる may not map one-to-one with its English translation. Focus on understanding the Japanese usage through example sentences rather than relying on the English gloss.

Related Patterns#

• 〜い (i-adjective forms) — Next step
• 〜極まりない (extremely / utterly) — Next step
• 〜やすい / 〜にくい (easy to / hard to) — Compare