A1 Idiom Neutral 1 Min. Lesezeit

首を長くする

kubi o nagaku suru

Wait eagerly

Jetzt üben

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to express that you are eagerly waiting for someone or something to arrive.

  • Means: To wait for something with great anticipation and excitement.
  • Used in: Planning meetings, waiting for guests, or anticipating a package.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about physical neck pain; it is purely metaphorical.
🦒 (Giraffe neck) + ⏳ (Waiting) = Eager anticipation

Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:

This phrase means you are waiting for something because you are happy and excited. You use it when you really want to see someone or do something soon.
It is a common idiom used to express eager anticipation. When you are waiting for a friend or an event, you can say you are 'stretching your neck' to see them arrive. It makes your speech sound more natural and expressive.
This idiom functions as a metaphorical expression of patience combined with excitement. It implies that the wait is not passive, but active and filled with positive emotion. It is frequently used in both personal and professional correspondence to convey warmth.
The phrase utilizes a somatic metaphor to externalize internal emotional states. By referencing the physical act of craning one's neck, the speaker effectively communicates the intensity of their anticipation. It is a staple of polite Japanese, serving to soften the tone of waiting.
This idiom is a prime example of Japanese 'kanyouku' (idiomatic phrases) that rely on body-part metaphors. It functions as a pragmatic marker of politeness and enthusiasm. By using this, the speaker signals a high degree of interpersonal investment in the upcoming event, effectively managing the social expectation of the listener.
From a cognitive linguistics perspective, this phrase maps the domain of 'physical exertion' onto the domain of 'temporal anticipation.' The neck-stretching imagery serves as a conceptual metonymy for the desire to reduce the distance between the subject and the object of desire. It is deeply embedded in the Japanese communicative style, where the demonstration of eagerness is a key component of social harmony and rapport-building.

Bedeutung

To look forward to something with anticipation.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

This phrase is used to show respect and interest in the other person's arrival or response. Similar metaphors involving body parts are common in many East Asian languages to describe emotional states. Western cultures often use 'can't wait' or 'looking forward to', which are direct and less metaphorical.

💡

Use it in emails

It is a great way to show enthusiasm in business emails without being too casual.

💡

Use it in emails

It is a great way to show enthusiasm in business emails without being too casual.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the blank with the correct verb.

返事を首を長くして＿＿＿。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 待つ

The idiom '首を長くする' is always used with the verb '待つ' (to wait).

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Aufgabensammlung

2 Aufgaben
Wähle die richtige Antwort Fill Blank

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Fill in the blank with the correct verb. Fill Blank A1

返事を首を長くして＿＿＿。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 待つ

The idiom '首を長くする' is always used with the verb '待つ' (to wait).

🎉 Ergebnis: /2

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1 Fragen

No, it is only for positive anticipation.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔄

心待ちにする

synonym

To wait with heart/anticipation

🔗

楽しみにする

similar

To look forward to

🔗

待ち遠しい

similar

Can't wait

Wo du es verwendest

🤝

Meeting a friend

A: 明日、会えるの楽しみにしてるね！

B: 私も！首を長くして待ってるよ。

informal
📧

Business email

Client: お返事を首を長くして待っております。

formal

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine a giraffe waiting for a bus; it stretches its long neck to see if the bus is coming!

Visuelle Assoziation

A person standing on a street corner, neck stretched out like a telescope, looking for a friend.

Story

Ken wanted to see his grandmother. He stood by the window. He stretched his neck. He was waiting with joy.

In Other Languages

English: 'To be on the edge of one's seat' or 'To look forward to'.

Word Web

待つ楽しみ期待会う到着心待ち

Herausforderung

Use this phrase in a text message to a friend today.

Review in 1, 3, 7, and 14 days.

Aussprache

Stress Flat pitch accent.

Kubi, like 'koo-bee'.

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
お会いできるのを首を長くして待っております。

お会いできるのを首を長くして待っております。 (Meeting someone)

Neutral
会えるのを首を長くして待っています。

会えるのを首を長くして待っています。 (Meeting someone)

Informell
会えるの、首を長くして待ってるよ！

会えるの、首を長くして待ってるよ！ (Meeting someone)

Umgangssprache
首長くして待ってる！

首長くして待ってる！ (Meeting someone)

The phrase comes from the natural human behavior of craning the neck to see someone coming from far away. It was observed that people who are excited to see someone often stand on their toes and stretch their necks.

Edo Period:

Wusstest du?

It is one of the most common idioms taught to Japanese children to express excitement.

Kulturelle Hinweise

This phrase is used to show respect and interest in the other person's arrival or response.

“お返事を首を長くして待っております。”

Similar metaphors involving body parts are common in many East Asian languages to describe emotional states.

“N/A”

Western cultures often use 'can't wait' or 'looking forward to', which are direct and less metaphorical.

“I can't wait to see you!”

Gesprächseinstiege

“

What is one thing you are waiting for right now?

Häufige Fehler

✗

首を長くして寝る

✓

首を長くして待つ

wrong context
You cannot 'sleep' with a long neck. The phrase is strictly for 'waiting'.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Esperar con ansias

Japanese uses a body-part metaphor, while Spanish uses an emotional noun.

French moderate

Attendre avec impatience

French emphasizes the 'impatience' aspect rather than the 'stretching' imagery.

German Different

Sich freuen auf

German lacks the physical metaphor entirely.

Japanese n/a

首を長くする

The gold standard for this specific idiom.

Arabic moderate

أنتظر بفارغ الصبر

Arabic focuses on the 'emptiness' of patience, while Japanese focuses on 'stretching'.

Spotted in the Real World

📺

(2018)

“みんなが来るのを首を長くして待ってるよ。”

A cast member waiting for new housemates.

Leicht verwechselbar

首を長くする vs. 首をかしげる

Both start with '首を'.

首をかしげる means 'to tilt the head' (in doubt), while 首を長くする is for 'waiting'.

Häufig gestellte Fragen (1)

No, it is only for positive anticipation.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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