Translation guide
Expresses that an action, speech, or state continues for a long time without stopping, often with a nuance of excess or annoyance. Japanese uses adverbs, verb forms, and mimetic words rather than a single fixed phrase.
To say that someone does something for a long time without pausing, often implying it is excessive or tiresome.
Adverb meaning 'endlessly' or 'on and on', often used for speech, complaints, or repetitive actions. Neutral to slightly negative nuance.
彼は延々と文句を言っていた。
He was complaining on and on.
Means 'continuously' or 'all the way'. Very common and neutral. Can be used for any continuous action, not necessarily negative.
彼はずっと話し続けた。
He kept talking on and on.
Literally 'forever', used to express that something continues on and on, often with a sense of impatience or that it should stop.
彼はいつまでも同じ話をしている。
He goes on and on about the same story.
Mimetic word for something dragging on in a sluggish, tedious manner. Often used for long, boring speeches or meetings.
会議がだらだらと続いた。
The meeting went on and on.
To describe someone speaking for a long time, often about a single topic, in a way that may be boring or annoying.
Adverb meaning 'at great length', used for speeches, explanations, or stories that go on and on.
彼は自分の成功について長々と語った。
He talked on and on about his success.
Mimetic word for talking on and on in a tedious, repetitive way, often complaining or nagging.
彼女はくどくどと愚痴を言った。
She went on and on with her complaints.
Mimetic word for talking fluently and nonstop, often indiscreetly. Can imply the speaker is chattering on and on.
To describe a road, path, or landscape that continues seemingly without end.
Means 'to the ends of the earth' or 'endlessly'. Used for roads, fields, etc. that stretch on and on.
道はどこまでも続いていた。
The road went on and on.
Also used for physical extension, like a line or queue that goes on and on.
行列が延々と続いている。
The line goes on and on.
延々と emphasizes the endless, often tedious nature of the continuation, while ずっと is a neutral 'continuously'. Use 延々と when you want to convey that something is going on too long.
Do not translate 'on and on' literally as 上と上 or similar. It is an idiomatic English phrase with no direct word-for-word equivalent.
彼は秘密をべらべらしゃべった。
He blabbed on and on about the secret.