Translation guide
The English phrase "go to excess" means to do something beyond what is normal, reasonable, or healthy. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs, adverbs, and set phrases depending on what is being done excessively—eating, drinking, working, spending, etc. The most common and versatile expressions are やりすぎる (do too much) and 度を越す (go beyond the limit).
Expressing that an action is performed excessively, beyond a reasonable limit.
A compound verb meaning 'to overdo' or 'to do too much'. It is casual and widely used in daily conversation.
昨日運動をやりすぎて、筋肉痛だ。
I overdid the exercise yesterday and now I have muscle pain.
Literally 'to exceed the degree/limit'. A common phrase for going too far in any context, from behavior to spending.
彼の冗談は度を越している。
His jokes go too far.
Attached to the stem of verbs or adjectives to mean 'too much'. E.g., 食べ過ぎる (eat too much), 高すぎる (too expensive).
飲み過ぎて頭が痛い。
I drank too much and my head hurts.
Means 'to go too far' in a literal or figurative sense. Often used for actions or statements that cross a line.
彼の発言は行き過ぎだ。
His remarks went too far.
Specifically referring to overindulgence in food or alcohol.
The standard way to say 'eat too much'.
食べ放題で食べ過ぎた。
I ate too much at the all-you-can-eat.
The standard way to say 'drink too much' (alcohol or other beverages).
Going overboard with money, buying too much, or living extravagantly.
Means 'to spend too much' or 'to use too much' (money, resources).
今月はお金を使い過ぎた。
I spent too much money this month.
Means 'to indulge in luxury' or 'to live extravagantly'. It implies going beyond necessity.
たまには贅沢をするのもいい。
It's okay to indulge once in a while.
A somewhat formal term meaning 'to squander money' or 'to waste money on luxuries'.
彼は趣味に散財している。
He is spending excessively on his hobbies.
Working too hard, overexerting oneself.
Means 'to work too much' or 'to overwork'.
働き過ぎで倒れた。
I collapsed from overwork.
Means 'to try too hard' or 'to push oneself too much'. Often used in encouraging someone not to overdo it.
頑張り過ぎないでね。
Don't push yourself too hard.
Means 'to overdo it' or 'to push beyond one's limits', often with negative consequences.
無理をすると体を壊すよ。
If you overdo it, you'll ruin your health.
Going to extremes in feelings, reactions, or conduct.
Means 'to become too emotional'.
議論で感情的になり過ぎた。
I got too emotional during the argument.
Means 'to get carried away' or 'to go too far' due to excitement or success.
調子に乗って言い過ぎた。
I got carried away and said too much.
Literally 'to run to extremes', meaning to adopt an extreme position or behavior.
彼は何でも極端に走る傾向がある。
He has a tendency to go to extremes in everything.
The phrase "go to excess" does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Translating it word-for-word (e.g., 過剰に行く) sounds unnatural. Instead, use the specific verb/adjective + すぎる pattern or set phrases like 度を越す.
過剰に行く
go to excess (literal, unnatural)
To say something is 'too [adjective]', attach すぎる to the adjective stem. For い-adjectives, drop the final い; for な-adjectives, just add すぎる.
この料理は辛すぎる。
This dish is too spicy.
彼は親切すぎる。
He is too kind.
昨夜は飲み過ぎて記憶がない。
I drank too much last night and have no memory.
A four-character compound meaning 'excessive drinking and eating', often used in health contexts.
暴飲暴食は体に悪い。
Excessive eating and drinking is bad for your health.