What does it mean word for word?
The phrase can be understood through its parts: 会えるの represents "the fact of being able to meet", while 楽しみにしています literally means "is making/keeping as a pleasure".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 会えるのを楽しみにしています is polite and suitable for most social or business-casual situations. For a much more formal and respectful tone toward the listener, you can use お会いできるのを楽しみにしています, which utilizes the humble form お会いできる. Conversely, the phrase becomes informal and suitable for friends when using the dictionary form 楽しみにしているよ. For expressing anticipation to superiors, the humble and polite expression お待ち申し上げます is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the particle の serves to turn the preceding verb phrase 会える into a noun clause, allowing it to function as the object of the anticipation.
How do you pronounce it?
aeru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu
Did you know?
- In professional emails, the phrase よろしくお願いします is often used instead of 会えるのを楽しみにしています to convey the same sentiment of anticipation.
- Unlike in English, where you can be 'looking forward to' almost anything, 楽しみにしています is rarely used for things that are inevitable or mandatory, like a doctor's appointment.
- If you use the humble version お会いできる, you are grammatically lowering your own status to elevate the person you are meeting, which is a core way to show respect in Japanese culture.
Examples in context
- もうすぐ君に会えるのを楽しみにしています。I am looking forward to seeing you soon.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are looking forward to seeing someone soon.Tatoeba #194436 by bunbuku, translation #31609 by CK
- あなた達家族に会えるのを楽しみにしています。I'm looking forward to seeing you and your family.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are looking forward to seeing someone and their family.Tatoeba #1632323 by mookeee, translation #257128 by CK
- 私達はあなた達家族に会えるのを楽しみにしています。We are looking forward to seeing you and your family.This sentence is useful for expressing that you (plural) are looking forward to seeing someone's family.Tatoeba #1632325 by mookeee, translation #262692 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are talking on the phone about a planned date.
- 大翔 Hiroto来週、結衣さんに会えるのを楽しみにしています。Raishuu, Yui-san ni aeru no o tanoshimi ni shiteimasu.I am looking forward to seeing you next week, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui私も、大翔さんに会えるのをとても楽しみにしています！Watashi mo, Hiroto-san ni aeru no o totemo tanoshimi ni shiteimasu!I am also looking forward to seeing you very much, Hiroto!
- 大翔 Hiroto当日はよろしくお願いしますね。Toujitsu wa yoroshiku onegaishimasu ne.I'll see you then.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、楽しみにしています。Hai, tanoshimi ni shiteimasu.Yes, I'm looking forward to it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
