Translation guide
Expresses repetition of an action or event many times, often with a sense of persistence or monotony. Japanese uses adverbs, verb forms, and mimetic words to convey this idea.
To say that something happens many times, repeatedly, or continuously.
Literally 'many times', this is the most common and neutral way to say 'over and over'. It can be used in both spoken and written Japanese.
彼は何度も同じ話をする。
He tells the same story over and over.
I practiced over and over.
Means 'repeatedly' or 'over and over', emphasizing the repetition itself. Often used as an adverb or noun.
繰り返し言うけど、気をつけてね。
I'll say it over and over, but be careful.
その曲を繰り返し聴いた。
I listened to that song over and over.
Similar to 何度も, but uses the counter 回 for occurrences. Very common in casual speech.
何回も電話したけど出なかった。
I called over and over but you didn't answer.
A pattern that describes doing something repeatedly, often with a sense of futility or alternation. It connects two repeated actions or the same action done repeatedly.
書いては消し、書いては消しして、やっと手紙を書き上げた。
Writing and erasing over and over, I finally finished the letter.
Adverbial form of しつこい (persistent, insistent). Implies doing something over and over in an annoying or persistent way.
彼はしつこく同じ質問をした。
He asked the same question over and over persistently.
To emphasize that an action continues without pause, often in a monotonous way.
Means 'continuously' or 'all the time'. When used with a verb, it indicates the action goes on and on.
彼はずっとしゃべっている。
He talks over and over without stopping.
Means 'endlessly' or 'interminably'. Often used for something that goes on too long, like a speech or a process.
会議が延々と続いた。
The meeting went on over and over.
To vividly express repetition using onomatopoeic or mimetic words, often with emotional nuance.
Mimetic word for spinning or going around in circles. Metaphorically, it can mean doing something over and over in a loop, like thoughts or a cycle.
同じ考えが頭の中でぐるぐる回っている。
The same thought goes round and round in my head over and over.
Mimetic word for saying something tediously or repetitively, often in a complaining or nagging manner.
Both mean 'over and over', but 何度も focuses on the number of times (many times), while 繰り返し emphasizes the act of repetition itself. 何度も is more common in everyday speech.
何度も言ったでしょ！
I told you over and over!
繰り返し練習することが大切です。
Practicing over and over is important.
Avoid directly translating 'over and over' as 上に上に or similar. Use the adverbs and patterns above for natural Japanese.
何度も言ったでしょ。
I've told you over and over.
彼女はそのピアノ曲を繰り返し練習した。
She practiced the piano piece over and over.
彼はくどくどと同じ文句を言う。
He says the same complaint over and over tediously.