Translation guide
The English phrase 'all over' has several distinct meanings. This guide breaks them down into practical uses: covering a surface, being everywhere, being finished, and more. For each meaning, natural Japanese expressions are provided.
Describing something that covers or is spread across a surface, like paint, water, or a rash.
Used when something covers an entire surface or area. Often with verbs like 広がる (spread) or 覆う (cover).
There's water spilled all over the floor.
Posters are plastered all over the wall.
Specifically for something covering the body, like a rash, paint, or sweat. The suffix 〜中 (じゅう) means 'throughout'.
A suffix meaning 'throughout' or 'all over'. Attach to nouns like 町 (town), 国 (country), 世界 (world).
I want to travel all over the world.
Means 'here and there' or 'all over the place', implying scattered coverage rather than a uniform layer.
Books are scattered all over the room.
Indicating that something is present or happening in many locations, or that someone has traveled extensively.
A formal/literary way to say 'everywhere' or 'all over the place'. Common in writing.
Expressing that an event, relationship, or activity has definitively ended.
Direct translation: 'completely finished'. Natural in many contexts.
Saying that a behavior is very characteristic of a person, usually in a critical way.
Pattern meaning 'just like (someone)'. Insert person's name or pronoun. Conveys 'that's so typical of them'.
Describing an action done thoroughly or covering every detail.
Means 'to every corner' or 'thoroughly'. Used with verbs like 掃除する (clean), 調べる (investigate).
Do not translate 'all over' word-for-word as すべての上 or similar. It is not natural Japanese. Use the context-appropriate phrases above.
一面に emphasizes a continuous covering of a surface. 〜中 (じゅう) emphasizes throughout a defined space or time. あちこち implies scattered, non-continuous distribution.
体中に発疹が出た。
I broke out in a rash all over my body.
I ache all over.
町中にその噂が広まった。
The rumor spread all over town.
There are cafes all over this town.
Casual, common way to say 'here and there' or 'all over'. Can be used with movement verbs.
I went all over the place on the weekend.
I looked all over but can't find it.
Similar to あちこち but slightly more formal. Often used in business contexts.
Complaints are coming in from all over.
Means 'nationwide' or 'all over the country'. Used for phenomena affecting an entire nation.
The news was reported all over the country.
The game is all over.
Our relationship is all over.
Casual, emphatic way to say 'it's over now'. Often used in dramatic or emotional contexts.
It's all over. Let's go home.
Formal term for 'ended' or 'concluded'. Used for events, broadcasts, operations.
The event is all over.
Being late is all over him. (That's so typical of him.)
Literary pattern meaning 'the height of ~'. Used for extreme examples of a trait. 'That's him all over' can be rendered with 彼の極みだ.
That irresponsibility is him all over.
I cleaned the room all over.
We investigated the issue all over.
Means 'all over', 'everywhere', 'thoroughly'. Slightly formal. Often used with 探す (search) or 調べる.
The police searched all over.