Translation guide
The English word "overdone" can refer to food that is cooked too much, or to actions, performances, or styles that are excessive or exaggerated. This guide helps learners express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
Describing food that has been cooked longer than desired, resulting in a dry, tough, or burnt state.
Noun meaning 'overcooking' or 'overdone', especially for grilled, baked, or fried foods. Often used with だ/です.
This steak is overdone.
Noun meaning 'overboiled'. Used for pasta, vegetables, etc. that have been boiled too long.
The pasta is overdone and too soft.
Phrase meaning 'the heat has gone through too much', i.e., overcooked. More general than 焼きすぎ.
The fish was overdone and became dry.
Verb meaning 'to overcook (by grilling/baking/frying)'. Less common as a descriptor than the noun form.
Be careful not to overdo the meat.
Describing something that is too extreme, dramatic, or unnatural, such as acting, makeup, or reactions.
Na-adjective meaning 'exaggerated', 'overdone', 'grandiose'. Commonly used for reactions, acting, or descriptions.
His reactions are always overdone.
Noun meaning 'overdoing', 'going too far'. Very common in casual speech. Can be used for actions, makeup, jokes, etc.
Noun/na-adjective meaning 'excessive', 'surplus'. More formal than やりすぎ. Used for things like decoration, reaction, or quantity.
I-adjective meaning 'overly elaborate', 'heavy', 'repetitive'. Often used for flavors, colors, or speech that is overdone and tiresome.
やりすぎ implies an action has gone too far in degree or quantity, while 大げさ implies exaggeration or dramatization. やりすぎ can be used for any overdoing, but 大げさ is specifically about making something seem bigger or more important than it is.
I put too much salt. The taste is too strong. → It's overdone.
He called a small mistake 'a huge failure!' → That's overdone (exaggerated).
Do not translate 'overdone' directly as オーバードン or 過ぎた. These are not natural Japanese. Use the context-appropriate words above.
This meat is overdone.
The acting was so overdone that I laughed.
そのメイクはちょっとやりすぎだよ。
That makeup is a bit overdone.
His jokes are always overdone.
装飾が過剰で落ち着かない部屋だ。
It's a room with overdone decoration, making it uncomfortable.
このソースは味がくどい。
This sauce has an overdone flavor.
His explanations are overdone and tiring.
Her smile was overdone and fake.