Translation guide
How to express that things overlap, intersect, or coincide in Japanese, depending on whether you mean physical overlap, scheduling conflicts, shared characteristics, or conceptual overlap.
Describing when two or more physical things partially cover each other, or when one thing lies on top of another.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to overlap', 'to lie on top of each other'. Used for physical objects, shapes, or images that are overlapping without specifying who caused it.
紙が重なっている。
The papers are overlapping.
二つの円が重なる部分。
The area where the two circles overlap.
Transitive verb meaning 'to overlap (something)', 'to pile up'. Use when someone intentionally places things on top of each other.
書類を重ねて置いた。
I placed the documents overlapping each other.
Emphasizes mutual overlapping, often used for multiple things overlapping each other.
葉が重なり合って地面が見えない。
The leaves overlap so much that you can't see the ground.
When two events or appointments happen at the same time, causing a conflict.
Also used for schedules. 'Schedule overlaps' or 'appointments clash'.
会議の時間が重なってしまった。
The meeting times overlapped (I had a scheduling conflict).
予定が重なっている日は行けません。
I can't go on days when my schedule overlaps.
Casual, from English 'batting', meaning schedules clash. Common in spoken Japanese.
その日は別の予定とバッティングしてるんだ。
That day clashes with another plan.
When two things have parts that are the same, such as interests, opinions, or features.
Used for abstract overlap: shared interests, opinions, or characteristics.
趣味が重なる友達が欲しい。
I want a friend with overlapping hobbies.
二人の意見が重なる部分が多い。
There are many areas where our opinions overlap.
Means 'to have in common', 'to share'. Often used when overlap is about shared traits or interests.
私たちは共通の友達がいる。
We have a mutual friend (overlapping friend).
この二つの問題は共通点が多い。
These two problems have many overlapping points.
Means 'to match' or 'to coincide'. Used when opinions or facts are exactly the same, not just partially overlapping.
私たちの考えが完全に一致した。
Our thoughts completely overlapped (were in agreement).
When two concepts, words, or categories partially share the same meaning or scope.
Works for conceptual overlap as well.
この二つの言葉の意味は少し重なっている。
The meanings of these two words overlap a little.
Means 'to duplicate' or 'to overlap redundantly'. Often used for data, content, or functions that are unnecessarily overlapping.
この二つの部署の仕事が重複している。
The work of these two departments overlaps (is redundant).
Loanword from English 'overlap'. Used in technical or business contexts.
この二つのプロジェクトの範囲がオーバーラップしている。
The scopes of these two projects overlap.
重なる (intransitive) describes the state of overlapping; 重ねる (transitive) describes the action of making things overlap. Use 重なる for schedules, shapes, and abstract concepts. Use 重ねる when you physically put things on top of each other.
オーバーラップする sounds technical or business-like. For daily conversation, use 重なる or バッティングする (for schedules).
Specifically 'double-booking', when the same time slot is assigned to two things.
会議室がダブルブッキングになっていた。
The meeting room was double-booked.