Translation guide
How to express 'overdoing it' in Japanese, covering excess in actions, work, exercise, drinking, and more.
To do something to an excessive degree, often with negative consequences.
The most common and versatile way to say 'overdo it'. Can be used for work, exercise, talking, etc.
昨日運動をやりすぎて、今日は筋肉痛だ。
I overdid it with exercise yesterday, so my muscles are sore today.
仕事をやりすぎないでください。
Don't overdo it with work.
Literally 'to do the unreasonable'. Implies pushing oneself beyond one's limits, often used when someone is working too hard or not taking care of themselves.
無理しないでね。
Don't overdo it. / Take it easy.
彼は無理しすぎて倒れた。
He overdid it and collapsed.
To be too enthusiastic or gung-ho, leading to overdoing it. Often used when someone is overly eager.
新人は張り切りすぎて、初日で疲れ果てた。
The new guy overdid it out of enthusiasm and was exhausted on the first day.
To eat or drink too much.
To overeat. The standard way to say you ate too much.
食べすぎてお腹が痛い。
I overate and my stomach hurts.
To drink too much (alcohol or any beverage).
A set phrase meaning 'to drink and eat to excess', often used in warnings about health.
暴飲暴食は体に悪いです。
Overindulging in food and drink is bad for your health.
To go too far with words or actions, often causing offense or awkwardness.
To say too much, to go too far in what one says.
ちょっと言いすぎたかもしれない。
I might have overdone it with what I said.
To get carried away, to overdo it because one is in a good mood or being praised.
調子に乗りすぎて、つい余計なことを言ってしまった。
I got carried away and ended up saying unnecessary things.
Can also be used for actions or jokes that go too far.
To push the body too hard, leading to injury or exhaustion.
A loanword from English 'overwork', commonly used for overtraining or working too hard physically.
オーバーワークで膝を痛めた。
I hurt my knee from overdoing it.
To do unreasonable/strenuous exercise.
無理な運動は逆効果です。
Overdoing exercise is counterproductive.
The English phrase 'overdo it' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. The most natural translation depends on what is being overdone. Using やりすぎる is a safe default for many situations, but for specific contexts like eating, drinking, or speaking, the compound verb with 〜すぎる attached to the specific action is more natural.
昨夜は飲みすぎて二日酔いだ。
I overdid it with drinking last night and have a hangover.
その冗談はやりすぎだよ。
That joke is overdoing it.