Too Much: すぎる〜すぎる
すぎる means "too much" or "excessively." It attaches to adjective stems and verb stems to express that something is overdone. For い-adjectives, drop い and add すぎる: 高い → 高すぎる (too expensive). For な-adjectives, add すぎる to the stem: 静か → 静かすぎる (too quiet). For verbs, add すぎる to the masu-stem: 食べ → 食べすぎる (eat too much).
すぎる means "too much" or "excessively." It attaches to adjective stems and verb stems to express that something is overdone. For い-adjectives, drop い and add すぎる: 高い → 高すぎる (too expensive). For な-adjectives, add すぎる to the stem: 静か → 静かすぎる (too quiet). For verbs, add すぎる to the masu-stem: 食べ → 食べすぎる (eat too much).
すぎる with い-adjectives
Drop the final い and add すぎる: 高い → 高すぎる (too expensive/tall), 甘い → 甘すぎる (too sweet), 長い → 長すぎる (too long), 難しい → 難しすぎる (too difficult). The result functions as a verb (ichidan), so it conjugates like one: 高すぎない (not too expensive), 高すぎた (was too expensive), 高すぎて (being too expensive...).
すぎる with な-adjectives
Add すぎる directly to the stem (no な, no だ): 静か → 静かすぎる (too quiet), 元気 → 元気すぎる (too energetic), きれい → きれいすぎる (too beautiful/clean). Note: do NOT add な before すぎる.
すぎる with verbs
Attach すぎる to the masu-stem (the form before ます): 食べます → 食べ → 食べすぎる (eat too much), 飲みます → 飲み → 飲みすぎる (drink too much), 働きます → 働き → 働きすぎる (work too much). This is one of the most practical grammar points for daily life.
Conjugating すぎる itself
Since すぎる is an ichidan verb, it conjugates normally: Negative: 高すぎない (not too expensive). Past: 高すぎた (was too expensive). て-form: 高すぎて (being too expensive...). Polite: 高すぎます. Noun form: 高すぎ (used casually as a noun: この値段は高すぎ!).
Example sentences
この服は高すぎる。
Kono fuku wa takasugiru.
These clothes are too expensive.
い-adj: 高い → 高すぎる
昨日飲みすぎた。
Kinou nomisugita.
I drank too much yesterday.
Verb: 飲み + すぎた (past)
この部屋は静かすぎて怖い。
Kono heya wa shizukasugite kowai.
This room is so quiet it’s scary.
な-adj + すぎて (て-form)
甘すぎるケーキは好きじゃない。
Amasugiru keeki wa suki ja nai.
I don’t like cake that’s too sweet.
すぎる modifying a noun (like a verb in relative clause)
食べすぎないように気をつけている。
Tabesuginai you ni ki o tsukete iru.
I’m careful not to eat too much.
すぎない = not too much / try not to overdo
Common mistakes
高いすぎる (takaisugiru)
高すぎる (takasugiru)
Drop い before adding すぎる. The い is replaced, not kept.
静かなすぎる
静かすぎる
Do not add な before すぎる. Attach すぎる directly to the な-adjective stem.
食べるすぎる
食べすぎる
Use the masu-stem (食べ), not the dictionary form (食べる). Drop る before adding すぎる.
Frequently asked questions
Can すぎる be used with いい?
Yes, but remember いい is irregular. The form is よすぎる (too good), NOT いすぎる. Since いい uses the よ- stem for all conjugated forms, and すぎる requires the stem, you get: いい → よ → よすぎる.
What is the difference between すぎる and とても?
とても means "very" (neutral/positive): とても美味しい (very delicious). すぎる means "too much" (negative/excessive): 美味しすぎる (too delicious — so good it’s a problem, or used hyperbolically). すぎる often implies something is beyond the ideal or acceptable level.
Can I use すぎ as a noun?
Yes, in casual speech すぎ functions as a noun: それは言いすぎ (that’s saying too much), 飲みすぎ (over-drinking). You will see this frequently in informal conversation and social media.
How do you say "too expensive"?
高い → ?すぎる