Can “～すぎます(sugimasu)” Be Positive Too? 🤔

📚 Exploring the Japanese Grammar Point ～すぎます

You’ve maybe heard expressions like “食べすぎました, tabe-sugimashita” (ate too much) or “怖すぎます, kowa-sugimasu” (too scary).

The grammar point ～すぎます is pretty well-known. In fact, many learners already know it when I bring it up in class!

But here’s something interesting!

This simple grammar form holds a lot more than meets the eye. Let’s take a closer look.

🔹 Originally Negative in Meaning

“～すぎます, sugimasu” attaches to verbs and adjectives to express that something goes too far, often in a bad way.

🍜 食べすぎます, tabe-sugimasu = eat too much

🍶 飲みすぎます, nomi-sugimasu = drink too much

❄️ 寒すぎます, samu-sugimasu = too cold

In these cases, the nuance is clearly negative. Doing something “too much” isn’t good, right?

🔹 But Nowadays… It Can Be Positive?!

Yes ― you’ll often hear people say:

💖 かわいすぎます, Kawaii-sugimasu! = Too cute!

🤣 おもしろすぎます, Omoshiro-sugimasu! = Too funny!

Even children use it in everyday speech.

On social media, in anime, in casual chats ― it’s everywhere!

In modern usage, ～すぎます has expanded to include positive emotions, not just complaints.

🔹 What’s the Difference from “Totemo”?

At first glance, “とても, totemo” (very) and “すぎます, sugimasu” (too much) seem similar.

However there’s a key difference:

・Totemo = strong but balanced intensity

・Sugimasu = extreme, often exaggerated

Example:

🍛 このカレーはとてもおいしいです。→ It’s very tasty.

🔥 このカレーはおいしすぎます。→ It’s insanely good! / Unbelievably delicious!

“Sugimasu” gives your feelings more punch, a stronger emotional impact.

🔹 Language Is Alive 🌱

The shift from “too much (bad)” to “too much (good)” shows how language changes over time.

And here’s the fun part: you as a learner and user are part of that change.

When enough people use a new meaning naturally, it can even end up in textbooks or dictionaries.

So don’t just study grammar but also enjoy watching it evolve. ✨

Thank you for reading!

Taichi