過剰

• Reading: かじょう
• Romaji: kajou
• Kanji breakdown: 過 (ka/su) — exceed; 剰 (jou/ama) — surplus, excess
• Pronunciation: /ka.dʑoː/

Meaning

Excess; surplus; superfluous. Describes an amount or degree that is more than needed or appropriate.

Functions as both a noun and na-adjective (過剰な). Used across many domains — medical (過剰投与 — overdose), economic (過剰供給 — oversupply), and psychological (過剰反応 — overreaction). The nuance is that the excess causes problems or imbalance.

Examples

1. 過剰な期待を抱かせるような発言は避けるべきだ。 Remarks that create excessive expectations should be avoided.
2. 食品添加物の過剰摂取が健康に悪影響を与えることがある。 Excessive intake of food additives can have adverse effects on health.
3. 報道の過剰反応が社会的な不安を煽っている。 Excessive media reactions are stoking social anxiety.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, economics, daily life

Tone: critical

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound: 過 (exceed) + 剰 (surplus, remainder). 剰 itself contains the sense of something left over beyond what is needed.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal