Japanese word

ただいま

Pronunciation

Romajitadaima

Meaning

  • interjectionI'm home!

Example

家に着いて、ただいまと言いました。ie ni tsu i te ta da i ma to i i ma shi ta

When I got home, I said, "I'm home!"

Illustration for ただいま (I'm home!)

More examples

玄関を開けて、ただいまと声をかけました。gen kan o a ke te ta da i ma to koe o ka ke ma shi ta

I opened the front door and called out, "I'm home."

Core concept

Signals that the speaker has returned to the shared home and is announcing the arrival to those inside.

Definition in Japanese

外出先から戻ったことを家にいる人へ知らせるためのあいさつの語。gai shutsu saki ka ra modo tta ko to o ie ni i ru hito e shi ra se ru ta me no a i sa tsu no go

Word origin

ただいま (tadaima) combines ただ (tada, "just") with 今 (ima, "now"), giving the basic sense "just now" before becoming a customary greeting on returning home.

Usage tips

  • The greeting ただいま (tadaima) is used when someone returns home, rather than as a general greeting when meeting someone outside.

Other meanings

  • I'm backinterjection

Word lists with this word