思(おも)い過(す)ごし

おもいすごし
noun
overthinking; imagining too much; needless worry
emotioncognition
1. overthinking; imagining too much; groundless worry
The act of worrying about or reading too much into something that turns out to be nothing. Used to reassure someone (or oneself) that their concerns are unfounded.
きっと思(おも)い過(す)ごしだよ。
I'm sure you're just overthinking it.
思(おも)い過(す)ごしかもしれないけど、彼(かれ)の態度(たいど)が気(き)になる。
It might just be my imagination, but his attitude bothers me.
嫌(きら)われているのかと心配(しんぱい)していたが、ただの思(おも)い過(す)ごしだった。
I was worried that they hated me, but it was just my overthinking.

From 思(おも)う (to think) + 過(す)ごす (to do excessively). Describes the common experience of worrying about something that turns out to be unfounded. Very useful in everyday conversation for reassuring others or dismissing one's own anxieties.

Usage

Most commonly used as a predicate: 思(おも)い過(す)ごしだ / 思(おも)い過(す)ごしだよ. Also appears with かもしれない when the speaker is unsure: 思(おも)い過(す)ごしかもしれないけど... (It might just be my imagination, but...).

Common collocations

  • ただの思(おも)い過(す)ごし — just overthinking
  • 思(おも)い過(す)ごしかもしれない — it might just be my imagination
  • 思(おも)い過(す)ごしだといいけど — I hope it's just my overthinking

Similar words

  • 気(き)のせい — one's imagination; very similar, slightly more casual
  • 考(かんが)えすぎ — overthinking; more direct, focuses on excessive analysis
  • 取(と)り越(こ)し苦労(くろう) — needless worry; implies worrying about the future unnecessarily

Related Words

Compare: 気(き)のせい (one's imagination)
general
Added 2026.3.26 14:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
19500/19572_omoisugoshi