How to say, "I can't wait to..."?

[adlerb9202]

I'm trying to figure out how to say, "I can't wait to," as in "I can't wait to go to Japan." My brain comes up with only two options, neither of which are correct I'm sure: using the verb まつ、which is so completely wrong that even I notice that. The other thought that pops into my beginner Japanese brain is 「日本に行きたい」、which isn't exactly what I want to say.

So, how would I say, "I can't wait to go to Japan" in Japanese?

--Bill

[danfernold7261]

I think it is "watashi wa nihon ni iku tame ni matsu koto ga dekinai "

Dan Fernold

[japanese.innovative]

Bill san and Dan san
Thanks for your comment!!
There are several ways to say "I can't wait to go to Japan." Here are some recommendations I can think of.

1. 早く日本に行きたい。Hayaku Nihon ni ikitai. "Hayaku"=soon
2. 日本に行くのが待ちきれない。Nihon ni iku no ga machikirenai.
"Nihon ni iku no"= to go to Japan
Machikirenai is like a phrase for "can't wait." Useful phrase to remember!

You can also say
3.日本に行くまで待てない。 Nihon ni iku made matenai. But it sounds a bit unnatural than the other two.

You can leave out a subject such as "watashi wa" if it's understood who's talking. So in this case, it's obvious that you are the person who's saying can't wait to go to Japan so you can leave out "watashi wa"!

Hope those help!
Have a great day / night over there!

Nanatsu 菜々津
TeamJapanesePod101.com

[adlerb9202]

Thank you. That's both informative and helpful.

Bill

[Tracel]

Hello there,

I came across the phrase 数えきれない　in one of the lessons. Is the construction for 待ち切れない　the same as 数えきれない？

Are there any other verbs that would use this phrase?

Tracel

[community.japanese]

Tracel-san,
数えきれない means there're too many things for you to (be able to) count them.
Whenever we use ～きれない, it means something is above your capability.
On the contrary, ～きる means you complete doing something, such as 食べきる (= eat something completely).

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com