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.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
To look forward to something with anticipation.
Contexte culturel
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-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct verb.
返事を首を長くして＿＿＿。
The idiom '首を長くする' is always used with the verb '待つ' (to wait).
🎉 Score : /1
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
2 exercices返事を首を長くして＿＿＿。
The idiom '首を長くする' is always used with the verb '待つ' (to wait).
🎉 Score : /2
Questions fréquentes
1 questionsNo, it is only for positive anticipation.
Expressions liées
心待ちにする
synonymTo wait with heart/anticipation
楽しみにする
similarTo look forward to
待ち遠しい
similarCan't wait
Où l'utiliser
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。
Business email
Client: お返事を首を長くして待っております。
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a giraffe waiting for a bus; it stretches its long neck to see if the bus is coming!
Association visuelle
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
Défi
Use this phrase in a text message to a friend today.
Review in 1, 3, 7, and 14 days.
Prononciation
Kubi, like 'koo-bee'.
Spectre de formalité
お会いできるのを首を長くして待っております。 (Meeting someone)
会えるのを首を長くして待っています。 (Meeting someone)
会えるの、首を長くして待ってるよ！ (Meeting someone)
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.
Le savais-tu ?
It is one of the most common idioms taught to Japanese children to express excitement.
Notes culturelles
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!”
Amorces de conversation
What is one thing you are waiting for right now?
Erreurs courantes
首を長くして寝る
首を長くして待つ
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Esperar con ansias
Japanese uses a body-part metaphor, while Spanish uses an emotional noun.
Attendre avec impatience
French emphasizes the 'impatience' aspect rather than the 'stretching' imagery.
Sich freuen auf
German lacks the physical metaphor entirely.
首を長くする
The gold standard for this specific idiom.
أنتظر بفارغ الصبر
Arabic focuses on the 'emptiness' of patience, while Japanese focuses on 'stretching'.
Spotted in the Real World
“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.
Facile à confondre
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'.
Questions fréquentes (1)
No, it is only for positive anticipation.
usage contexts
