What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally breaks down to "the fact of being able to meet (you) [object marker] making an enjoyment of".
Which one should you use?
While お会いできるのを楽しみにしています is a standard polite way to express anticipation, other forms offer different nuances. お目にかかるのを楽しみにしています is a formal way to say "I look forward to meeting you," and お会いできることを心待ちにしております conveys a sense of deep longing and anticipation to meet the person. For casual settings, you might use 会えるのを楽しみにしてる！ to say "I'm looking forward to meeting you!" or 会うのが楽しみだよ！ to say "I'm excited to meet you!"
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 polite form suitable for business correspondence or speaking to someone you do not know well. In much more casual, friendly contexts, you can use 会えるのを楽しみにしてる！ or 会うのが楽しみだよ！ For even more formal situations, お目にかかるのを楽しみにしています or the highly anticipatory お会いできることを心待ちにしております are appropriate.
How do you pronounce it?
oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shiteimasu
When do people say it?
In Japanese correspondence, when you want to say "I look forward to working with you" or "Nice to meet you in advance," you can use the phrase よろしくお願いします。
Did you know?
- The formal version お目にかかる uses a verb that literally means 'to place something before one's eyes', reflecting a cultural history of humility where you lower your own status relative to the person you are meeting.
- In a business email, adding よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) after your anticipation is often more important than the expression of excitement itself. This phrase functions as a social glue that requests the recipient's future favor or cooperation.
- The phrase 心待ちにしております (kokoro machi ni shite orimasu) uses the kanji for 'heart' (心). It suggests that the anticipation is not just a mental state, but something held physically within the heart.
Examples in context
- 来週、お会いできるのを楽しみにしています。Raishuu, oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.I am looking forward to meeting you next week.
- 先生にお会いできるのを楽しみにしています。Sensei ni oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.I am looking forward to meeting the teacher.
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are exchanging emails before their first business meeting.
- 美咲 Misaki明日の会議、お会いできるのを楽しみにしています。Ashita no kaigi, oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.I am looking forward to meeting you at tomorrow's meeting.
- 大翔 Hirotoこちらこそ、お会いできるのを楽しみにしています。Kochira koso, oai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.Likewise, I am looking forward to meeting you.
- 美咲 Misakiよろしくお願いします。Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.I look forward to working with you.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、よろしくお願いします。Hai, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Yes, nice to meet you.
