Translation guide
How to express the concept of taking too much of a drug or substance, whether accidentally or intentionally, in Japanese.
To describe the act of taking an excessive, harmful dose of a drug, medication, or substance.
The standard medical and formal term for 'overdose'. Used in news, medical contexts, and official warnings.
薬物の過剰摂取で死亡した。
He died from a drug overdose.
睡眠薬の過剰摂取は危険です。
An overdose of sleeping pills is dangerous.
A common loanword from English, widely used in everyday conversation and media. Often abbreviated as 'OD'.
彼女はオーバードーズで救急搬送された。
She was rushed to the hospital for an overdose.
ODで死ぬ人もいる。
Some people die from an OD.
A casual, non-technical way to say 'to take too much medicine/drugs'. Focuses on the action rather than the medical event.
風邪薬を飲みすぎて気分が悪くなった。
I took too much cold medicine and felt sick.
Literally 'to exceed a lethal dose'. Used in forensic or toxicology contexts.
彼の体内から致死量を超える薬物が検出された。
A lethal dose of drugs was detected in his system.
To refer to an overdose taken deliberately, often in the context of mental health or suicide.
Literally 'large-dose medication'. Commonly used in medical and mental health contexts for intentional overdoses, especially of prescription drugs.
彼女は大量服薬で自殺を図った。
She attempted suicide by overdosing on medication.
Using the loanword with the verb 'suru' to mean 'to overdose'. Can imply intentionality depending on context.
彼はリストカットとオーバードーズを繰り返している。
He repeatedly self-harms and overdoses.
To specify that the overdose was not intentional.
Means 'to accidentally overdose'. Adds '誤って' (mistakenly) to the standard term.
子供が誤って大人の薬を過剰摂取した。
The child accidentally overdosed on adult medication.
A very casual way to say 'to accidentally take too much'. 'うっかり' implies carelessness.
痛み止めをうっかり飲みすぎちゃった。
I accidentally took too many painkillers.
To express having an excess of something enjoyable or intense, like music, love, or information.
A playful or metaphorical use of the medical term. Attach a noun to mean 'an overdose of ~'.
甘いものの過剰摂取で気持ち悪い。
I feel sick from a sugar overdose.
情報の過剰摂取で頭がパンクしそう。
My brain is about to explode from information overload.
Means 'addicted to ~' or 'poisoning from ~'. Often used for non-drug contexts like 'sugar addiction' or 'game addiction'.
彼はゲーム中毒だ。
He's addicted to games. (He has a gaming overdose.)
While 'オーバードーズ' is common in speech and informal writing, in academic papers, news reports, or official documents, use '過剰摂取' instead.
In casual contexts, especially online or among younger people, 'OD' (pronounced オーディー) is used as a noun or verb (ODする). It often carries a connotation of intentional self-harm.