何の言葉05 楽しみ(tanoshimi)

Hi readers!

How’s your language learning journey going? Remember, it’s important to have fun while learning!

Speaking of fun, I’m sure you’ve heard of this common Japanese word ‘tanoshii’ (楽しい). What about the word ‘tanoshimi’ (楽しみ)?

Meaning of 楽しみ :

楽しい is an adjective used to describe something that is fun, enjoyable. On the other hand, 楽しみ has 2 meanings, and is the noun version of 楽しい。

1. pleasure, fun, joy

子育ての楽しみを知った。
I realized the joy of parenting.

English phrases with similar meaning to 楽しみ:

“Fun”
“Joy”
“Pleasure”
”Delight”

2. looking forward to ~

夏祭り、楽しみだね！
I can’t wait for the summer festival!

English phrases with similar meaning to 楽しみ:

“Looking forward to ~”
“Excited for ~”

 💡Make a joke with お楽しみに！

There's a common phrase 「お楽しみに！」”otanoshimi ni” which is used in TV programs, magazines, events, etc. (English equivalent would be “Stay tuned!”)

For example:
「来週、スペシャルなゲストが登場します。お楽しみに！」
Next week, our special guest will be revealed. Stay tuned!

In the same manner, you can use it as a joke in a daily conversation, like:

A:「今日どんな服を買ったの？」
What clothes did you buy today?

B:「明日着てくるよ。お楽しみに！」
I’ll wear it tomorrow. Look forward to it!

１．来週、北海道に行くんだ。すごく楽しみ！
　I’m going to Hokkaido next week. I can’t wait!

２．昼まで寝ることが日曜日の楽しみです。
　Sleeping til the afternoon is how I enjoy my Sunday.

３．明日のライブが楽しみすぎて、眠れないよ。
　I’m too excited for tomorrow’s live concert that I can’t sleep.

４．これからのご活躍を、楽しみにしています。
　I look forward to your future endeavors.

Japanese phrases with similar meaning to 楽しみ:

・わくわく（wakuwaku）
・期待（kitai）

Have you enjoyed our newsletters so far? If so, we’d love to hear from you, 皆さんのメール楽しみ! 😊

Sincerely,
Amasugi Letter