「お目にかかる」- Humble Honorific for Meeting Someone

Explanation

お目にかかる is a humble honorific expression in Japanese used to mean "to meet someone." It is the humble form of the verb "会う" (to meet) and is typically used when referring to meeting someone of higher status, such as a superior, guest, or someone deserving of respect. By using お目にかかる, the speaker conveys humility and respect toward the other person.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Noun + に + お目にかかる	Noun + に + お目にかかる	Used to express "meeting someone," especially in formal situations or when addressing someone of higher status, such as a superior or elder.

Basic Usage

お目にかかる is commonly used in formal settings, such as business meetings, first encounters, or client visits. It is often tied to the status or position of the person being met, showcasing the speaker's humility and respect.

Examples

• 先日せんじつはお目にかかれて光栄こうえいでした。
• Senjitsu wa o-me ni kakarete kouei deshita.
• It was an honor to meet you the other day.
  

• 明日あした、社長しゃちょうにお目にかかります。
• Ashita, shachou ni o-me ni kakarimasu.
• I will meet the company president tomorrow.
  

• 私わたしもこのパーティーぱーてぃーで先生せんせいにお目にかかれるとは思おもいませんでした。
• Watashi mo kono paatii de sensei ni o-me ni kakareru to wa omoimasen deshita.
• I didn’t expect to meet my teacher at this party.
  

Deep Dive

お目にかかる is more than just a way to say "to meet someone." It also conveys a sense of respect and humility. Unlike the neutral verb 「会う」, お目にかかる is more appropriate for formal situations and is a way to show respect to the other person.

Real-Life Scenarios

• Business Meetings
  • 会議かいぎの後あと、社長しゃちょうにお目にかかる予定よていです。
  • Kaigi no ato, shachou ni o-me ni kakaru yotei desu.
  • I plan to meet the company president after the meeting.
    
• First Encounters
  • 初はじめてお目にかかります。私わたしは田中たなかです。
  • Hajimete o-me ni kakarimasu. Watashi wa Tanaka desu.
  • Nice to meet you for the first time. I am Tanaka.
    
• Client Visits
  • 先週せんしゅうはお目にかかれて、ありがとうございました。
  • Senshuu wa o-me ni kakarete, arigatou gozaimashita.
  • Thank you for meeting me last week.
    

Summary

お目にかかる is a humble honorific expression in Japanese used to describe meeting someone, particularly in formal contexts. By understanding its usage and how it differs from similar expressions, you can use this phrase more accurately in various situations.