お会いできてとても嬉しいです
oaidekite totemo ureshii desu
In Japanese, "I am so happy to see you" is expressed as お会いできてとても嬉しいです (oaidekite totemo ureshii desu).
This phrase is used when meeting someone for the first time or meeting someone again after a long period of time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally breaks down to meeting (honorific) + being able to do + very + happy + polite copula. The word とても means "very".
Which one should you use?
The default form お会いできてとても嬉しいです is polite, whereas 会えて嬉しい is a much more casual version used with friends or family.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase お会いできてとても嬉しいです is polite and suitable for business settings or speaking to someone you do not know well. Other forms include お会いできて、本当に嬉しいです for a formal "I am truly happy to be able to meet you" and informal versions such as 会えてめちゃくちゃ嬉しい！ or 会えて嬉しいよ！
How does it change in a sentence?
The form お会いできて uses the potential form of the verb au (to meet) in its te-form to express the reason for the happiness.
How do you pronounce it?
oaidekite totemo ureshii desu
Did you know?
- While 'happy' in English is a common way to greet someone, Japanese speakers often avoid expressing personal feelings too directly in formal settings. Using the word 嬉しい can sometimes make the speaker seem slightly too self-centered by focusing on their own emotional reaction.
- While 嬉しい (ureshii) is used in this phrase, Japanese has another word for happy, 幸せ (shiawase), which refers to a long-term state of well-being rather than the momentary joy of seeing someone.
- The verb 会う (to meet) is used specifically for planned meetings. If you run into someone by chance, you would use 出くわす or バッタリ会う instead of the polite お会いできて.
Examples in context
- 今日はお会いできてとても嬉しいです。Kyou wa oai dekite totemo ureshii desu.I am so happy to see you today.
- 久しぶりにお会いできてとても嬉しいです。Hisashiburi ni oai dekite totemo ureshii desu.I am so happy to see you after such a long time.
- 先生にお会いできてとても嬉しいです。Sensei ni oai dekite totemo ureshii desu.I am so happy to see you, teacher.
Example conversation
Youta meets Misaki at a cafe for the first time after a business introduction.
- 陽太 Yota初めまして、美咲さんにお会いできてとても嬉しいです。Hajimemashite, Misaki-san ni oai dekite totemo ureshii desu.Nice to meet you, I am so happy to see you, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misakiこちらこそ、陽太さんにお会いできて嬉しいです。Kochira koso, Youta-san ni oai dekite ureshii desu.The pleasure is mine, I am happy to see you, Youta.
- 陽太 Yota今日はよろしくお願いします。Kyou wa yoroshiku onegaishimasu.I look forward to working with you today.
- 美咲 Misakiこちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Likewise, I look forward to it.
