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.
The papers are overlapping.
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.
I placed the documents overlapping each other.
Emphasizes mutual overlapping, often used for multiple things overlapping each other.
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.
When two things have parts that are the same, such as interests, opinions, or features.
Used for abstract overlap: shared interests, opinions, or characteristics.
I want a friend with overlapping hobbies.
Means 'to have in common', 'to share'. Often used when overlap is about shared traits or interests.
Means 'to match' or 'to coincide'. Used when opinions or facts are exactly the same, not just partially overlapping.
When two concepts, words, or categories partially share the same meaning or scope.
Works for conceptual overlap as well.
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.
Loanword from English 'overlap'. Used in technical or business contexts.
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.
The clouds are overlapping.
He stacked the books (overlapped them).
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).
I can't go on days when my schedule overlaps.
That day clashes with another plan.
Specifically 'double-booking', when the same time slot is assigned to two things.
The meeting room was double-booked.
There are many areas where our opinions overlap.
We have a mutual friend (overlapping friend).
These two problems have many overlapping points.
Our thoughts completely overlapped (were in agreement).
The work of these two departments overlaps (is redundant).
The scopes of these two projects overlap.