Translation guide
The act of replacing existing data with new data, typically in computing contexts. In Japanese, this is expressed with compound verbs or nouns using 上書き (uwagaki).
上書き
overwriting (computing)
To write new data over existing data, erasing the old content.
Noun meaning 'overwriting'. Used in computing contexts for replacing file contents.
ファイルを上書き保存しますか？
Do you want to save and overwrite the file?
Verb phrase meaning 'to overwrite'. The most common way to express the action.
既存のデータを上書きしてしまった。
I accidentally overwrote the existing data.
Compound meaning 'save and overwrite'. Common in software menus.
上書き保存を実行すると、元のファイルは復元できません。
If you perform an overwrite save, the original file cannot be restored.
Less common term for overwriting, literally 'layered writing'. May appear in technical contexts.
この操作はデータの重ね書きを引き起こす。
This operation causes overwriting of data.
To write on top of existing writing, often making it illegible.
Literally 'write from above'. Used when physically writing over something.
間違えたので、上から書いて修正した。
I made a mistake, so I wrote over it to correct it.
Means 'rewrite', but can imply overwriting if done on the same paper.
同じ場所に書き直したら、読みにくくなった。
When I rewrote in the same spot, it became hard to read.
Do not translate 'overwriting' as オーバーライティング (ōbāraitingu) or オーバーライト (ōbāraito) unless in specific programming contexts (e.g., method overriding). For file overwriting, always use 上書き.