お会いできるのを楽しみにしています
oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shiteimasu
The English phrase "I look forward to meeting you" is expressed in Japanese as お会いできるのを楽しみにしています (oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shiteimasu).
This phrase is a polite way to say that you are excited about a future meeting with someone. It is commonly used at the end of an email or letter when a meeting has already been scheduled.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お会いできるのを楽しみにしています is a formal and polite version suitable for business correspondence or meeting someone for the first time. For friends or peers, a casual version like 会えるのを楽しみにしているね can be used to express the same sentiment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The use of the honorific prefix o and the potential form dekiru makes this a polite way to express anticipation toward a superior or a client.
How do you pronounce it?
oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shiteimasu
Did you know?
- Japanese has a concept called keigo that allows this phrase to be shifted into even more humble forms, such as using お目にかかる instead of 会う to describe the act of meeting.
- If you were writing to a high-ranking client, you might use the much more formal oai dekiru koto o o-machishite orimasu. This uses 'orimasu' instead of 'imasu' to lower your own status and elevate theirs.
- In very casual settings, using the full phrase tanoshimi ni shiteimasu can actually sound slightly stiff or even sarcastic, so stick to the short version with friends.
Examples in context
- 明日、お会いできるのを楽しみにしています。Ashita, oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.I am looking forward to meeting you tomorrow.
- 直接、お会いできるのを楽しみにしています。Chokusetsu, oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.I look forward to meeting you in person.
Example conversation
A business person and a client are exchanging emails before a first meeting.
- 大翔 Hiroto来週の会議、よろしくお願いします。Raishuu no kaigi, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.I look forward to next week's meeting.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、お会いできるのを楽しみにしています。Hai, oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.Yes, I look forward to meeting you.
- 大翔 Hirotoこちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.The pleasure is mine.
- 美咲 Misakiでは、当日お待ちしています。Dewa, toujitsu omachi shite imasu.Well then, I will be waiting for you on that day.
