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.
He studied overnight.
I read this book overnight.
Literally 'through the night'. Emphasizes continuity throughout the night.
I worked overnight.
Staying up all night, often for work or study. Commonly used as a noun or with する.
I finished the report overnight.
Describing something that continues or remains from evening until morning.
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.
He became famous overnight.
Means 'in the blink of an eye'. Emphasizes speed, not necessarily tied to night.
He succeeded overnight.
Simple 'suddenly'. Less vivid but very common.
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.
I stayed overnight in Tokyo.
Verb phrase meaning 'to stay one night'. Very common for trips.
We stayed overnight at a hot spring.
Casual, often used for sleepovers or staying at a friend's place.
I stayed overnight at my friend's house.
Describing a service that delivers or processes something by the next day.
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.
The situation changed overnight.
即日発送いたします。
We ship overnight.