1.
excessively; overly; to an undue or unhealthy degree
The adverbial form of 過剰 (excess), used to mark an action or state as going beyond what is appropriate, necessary, or healthy. It usually carries a negative or cautionary tone — reacting too strongly, consuming too much, or worrying more than the situation warrants.
過剰に反応しないで。
Don't overreact.
The adverbial form of the na-adjective / noun 過剰 (excess, surplus), made with the standard に ending. Register is neutral-formal; the word is common in news, commentary, and careful speech, whereas casual conversation more often uses phrases like あまりに or 〜すぎる. Its tone is almost always critical — "more than is appropriate" — so be careful using it in praise.
Common collocations
- 過剰に反応する: to overreact
- 過剰に心配する: to worry excessively
- 過剰に期待する: to have excessive expectations
- 過剰に摂取する: to consume in excess (nutrients, alcohol, etc.)
- 過剰に意識する: to be overly conscious (of something)
Similar words
- 〜すぎる: too (much) — attaches to verbs/adjectives for the same meaning in more casual speech
- あまりに: excessively, too — emphasizes "so much that" and often pairs with a resultant outcome
- 必要以上に: more than necessary — close in meaning, often interchangeable
- 度を越して: beyond what is proper — evokes the image of crossing a line
Usage
Grammar-wise, 過剰に typically modifies a verb and is placed directly before it or the verb's object clause. It almost always pairs with a verb that describes a reaction, feeling, or consumption.