過ぎる

• Reading: すぎる
• Romaji: sugiru
• Kanji breakdown: 過 (ka/su) — exceed, pass, overdo
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.ɡi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To exceed; to go beyond; to pass. Also used as a suffix meaning 'too much.'

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb with two main uses: as a standalone verb meaning 'to pass by' (時間が過ぎる) or 'to exceed,' and as an extremely common suffix attached to verbs and adjectives to mean 'too much' (食べすぎる, 高すぎる). The suffix form is written in hiragana as すぎる.

Examples

1. もう十二時を過ぎていますよ。 It's already past twelve o'clock, you know.
2. 昨日は食べすぎて気持ち悪くなりました。 I ate too much yesterday and felt sick.
3. 時間が過ぎるのは本当に速いですね。 Time really does pass quickly, doesn't it?

Usage Guide

Context: time, daily life, expressing excess

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 過 combines 辶 (movement) and 咼 (crooked), suggesting going past a point or exceeding a boundary.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal