Translation guide
The English word "overnight" can refer to something happening during the night, lasting through the night, or happening suddenly. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
Describing something that happens or is done in the course of a single night.
Means 'one night' or 'all night'. Used with verbs to indicate an action taking place overnight.
彼は一晩中勉強した。
He studied overnight.
一晩でこの本を読んだ。
I read this book overnight.
Literally 'through the night'. Emphasizes continuity throughout the night.
夜通し働いた。
I worked overnight.
Staying up all night, often for work or study. Commonly used as a noun or with する.
徹夜でレポートを仕上げた。
I finished the report overnight.
Describing something that continues or remains from evening until morning.
Means 'all night long'. Used for continuous states or actions.
一晩中雨が降っていた。
It rained overnight.
Means 'during the night' or 'by morning'. Often used when something changes by the next day.
雪が夜のうちに積もった。
Snow accumulated overnight.
Describing a change or success that happens in a very short time, as if overnight.
Literally 'in one night'. Used figuratively for rapid, dramatic change.
彼は一夜にして有名人になった。
He became famous overnight.
Means 'in the blink of an eye'. Emphasizes speed, not necessarily tied to night.
あっという間に成功した。
He succeeded overnight.
Simple 'suddenly'. Less vivid but very common.
状況が急に変わった。
The situation changed overnight.
Referring to staying somewhere for one night, such as a hotel or a friend's house.
Formal noun meaning 'lodging' or 'overnight stay'. Used in travel contexts.
東京に一泊宿泊した。
I stayed overnight in Tokyo.
Verb phrase meaning 'to stay one night'. Very common for trips.
温泉に一泊した。
We stayed overnight at a hot spring.
Casual, often used for sleepovers or staying at a friend's place.
友達の家にお泊まりした。
I stayed overnight at my friend's house.
Describing a service that delivers or processes something by the next day.
Means 'next-day delivery'. Standard term for overnight shipping.
この荷物は翌日配達で送ります。
I'll send this package overnight.
Means 'same day', but often used in contexts where overnight processing is implied.
即日発送いたします。
We ship overnight.
English 'overnight' as an adverb often becomes a time expression like 一晩で or 夜のうちに. Direct translation as オーバーナイト is only used in specific loanword contexts (e.g., 'overnight bag').
一晩 (ひとばん) simply means 'one night' and can be used neutrally. 徹夜 (てつや) implies intentionally staying up all night without sleeping, often for a task.