楽(たの)しみにする

One of the most common expressions for anticipation in Japanese. Almost always appears in the ている form (楽(たの)しみにしている) to express an ongoing state of looking forward to something. The polite form 楽(たの)しみにしています is a standard closing phrase in business emails and conversations.

Common collocations

• 楽(たの)しみにしている: am looking forward to
• 楽(たの)しみにしています: look forward to (polite)
• 楽(たの)しみにしております: look forward to (humble/formal)
• 楽(たの)しみにしていてね: look forward to it! (casual)
• 楽(たの)しみにお待(ま)ちしています: looking forward to it (polite business)

Similar words

• 待(ま)ち遠(どお)しい: can hardly wait — emphasizes impatience and the feeling that time is passing too slowly
• わくわくする: to be excited — focuses on the excited feeling itself rather than anticipation
• 心待(こころま)ちにする: to eagerly await — more literary and formal

Usage

In email sign-offs, 楽(たの)しみにしています is equivalent to English "I look forward to..." and is appropriate in both business and casual correspondence.