待ちきれない

I found this phrase while I want to express “I can’t wait”, meaning I’m anticipating it very much.

So this is actually 待ち＋きれない

切る（きる）

means to do something ‘til the end/finish something

• 食べ切る -> eat it all
• 食べ切れる -> can eat it all
• 食べきれない -> cannot eat it all

So 待ちきれない literally means I cannot finish waiting

Notes

The polite/more formal way to say this is 楽しみしている, 待ちきれない has a stronger feeling and is used more in casual cases.

For example

お腹もペコペコでもう待ちきれない。
I’m starving, I can’t wait (to eat)!

I think starving is a strong feeling, and there are words like hangry that has emotions linked with it 🤣