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kyuuryoubi ga tanoshimi desu.

給料日きゅうりょうび　が　楽たのしみ　です。kyuuryoubi ga tanoshimi desu.
I look forward to payday.
FromLesson 26inHardcore Japanese

Questions & Answers about kyuuryoubi ga tanoshimi desu.

What does each part mean and how do you read it?
  • 給料日 (きゅうりょうび / kyūryōbi): payday
  • が (ga): subject marker
  • 楽しみ (たのしみ / tanoshimi): something you look forward to; anticipation; a treat
  • です (desu): polite copula Overall: Payday is something I’m looking forward to.
Why が and not は?

With feelings and preferences, Japanese often marks the thing that causes the feeling with が (pattern: X が 好き, X が 嫌い, X が 怖い, X が 楽しみ). 給料日が楽しみです neutrally states what you look forward to.
Using は makes 給料日 the topic/contrast: 給料日は楽しみです = As for payday, I’m excited (perhaps unlike other days). It’s fine, but slightly more contrastive or topical.

Is 楽しみ a noun? Why not 楽しい?
  • 楽しみ is a noun (and can behave like a な-adjective). It means “anticipation,” “something to look forward to,” “a pleasure.”
  • 楽しい is an い-adjective meaning “fun/enjoyable” (describes the experience itself).
    Compare:
  • 休みが楽しみです。 I’m looking forward to the holiday.
  • 休みは楽しいです。 Holidays are fun (when they happen).
What’s the difference between X が 楽しみです and X を 楽しみにしています?

Both mean “I’m looking forward to X.”

  • X が 楽しみです: a concise, stative description of your anticipation.
  • X を 楽しみにしています: emphasizes the ongoing act/state of anticipating; common in emails/announcements.
    More formal: X を 楽しみにしております.
Which particle goes with 楽しみにする?

Use を: X を 楽しみにしています.
Use が with the noun-predicate pattern: X が 楽しみです.

How do I say it more casually?
  • 給料日が楽しみだ。 plain form
  • Very casual/soft: 給料日が楽しみ。
    Add tone particles:
  • 給料日が楽しみだね。 (seeking agreement)
  • 給料日が楽しみだよ。 (assertive/informative)
  • 給料日が楽しみだなあ。 (savoring the feeling)
How do I make it negative or past?
  • Negative (polite): 給料日が楽しみではありません。
  • Negative (casual): 給料日が楽しみじゃない。 (also common: じゃないです)
  • Past (polite): 給料日が楽しみでした。
  • If you were actively looking forward: 給料日を楽しみにしていました。
How can I say “I can’t wait for payday” more strongly?
  • 給料日が待ち遠しい。 (I can hardly wait.)
  • 給料日が待ちきれない。 (I can’t wait.)
  • 給料日が楽しみでたまらない。 (I’m dying to get to payday.)
Do I need to say “I” (私)?
No. It’s understood from context that the speaker is the one anticipating it. You can add it for clarity or contrast: 私は給料日が楽しみです (as for me, I look forward to payday).
Is 給料の日 okay, or should it be 給料日?
給料日 is the standard, set word for “payday.” 給料の日 is understandable but less standard. Also, お給料 is a polite word for “salary,” but お給料日 sounds casual/cutesy; in formal contexts stick to 給料日.
Why is 日 read as び here (きゅうりょうび)?
In many compound nouns for specific days, 日 becomes び due to a voicing process (連濁, rendaku): 誕生日 (たんじょうび), 記念日 (きねんび), 給料日 (きゅうりょうび). It’s a common pattern you just memorize per word.
Can 楽しみ modify nouns?

Yes, as 楽しみな + noun:

  • 楽しみなイベント (an event you’re looking forward to)
  • 給料日が楽しみな人 (people who look forward to payday)
Can I change the word order or front the predicate?

Japanese generally keeps predicate at the end. 給料日が楽しみです is natural.

  • Emphatic variant: 楽しみなのは給料日です。 (The thing I look forward to is payday.)
  • Explanatory tone: 給料日が楽しみなんです。
    Putting 楽しみです、給料日が is unnatural.
Is 楽しみにです ever correct?
No. Don’t say 楽しみにです. Use either 楽しみです (noun + copula) or 楽しみにしています (set phrase with する).
How would I use this pattern in a business email?

Use the を 楽しみにしております form for politeness:

  • お会いできることを楽しみにしております。
  • ご連絡を楽しみにしております。
    For payday you’d more likely mention dates plainly rather than say you’re looking forward to it in business writing.
Are spaces normal in Japanese writing?
No. Spaces here are for learners. Normally it’s written as 給料日が楽しみです。
Can I use verbs with this pattern?

Yes: V-辞書形 + のが 楽しみです

  • ボーナスをもらうのが楽しみです。 I’m looking forward to getting the bonus.
  • 給料が上がるのが楽しみです。 I’m looking forward to my salary going up.
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