ただいま

• Reading: ただいま
• Romaji: tadaima
• Pronunciation: /ta.da.i.ma/

Meaning

I'm back / I'm home — announced upon returning to one's home or group.

ただいま is the standard phrase called out when arriving home, paired with the response おかえり. It signals arrival and belonging. Beyond the home, it is also used humorously when returning to an online chat, a group of friends, or any place one considers 'home base.' The phrase carries an emotional warmth that transcends its literal meaning.

Examples

1. ただいま〜、お腹すいた！ I'm home! I'm starving!
2. ただいま！今日めっちゃ疲れた。 I'm back! I'm so exhausted today.
3. 出張から帰ってきた、ただいま！ Just got back from my business trip — I'm home!

Usage Guide

Context: home, returning to a group, online communities

Tone: warm, announcing

Do Say

• ただいま〜、何か美味しいにおいする！ (I'm home~ something smells delicious!)
• ただいま！荷物多いから手伝って (I'm back! I have lots of bags, help me out)

Don't Say

• 他人の家に入る時に「ただいま」は言わない — 「お邪魔します」を使う (Don't say ただいま when entering someone else's home — use お邪魔します)

Common Mistakes

• Not saying ただいま when coming home — in Japanese culture, silence is considered odd; the phrase is expected
• Using ただいま when arriving somewhere that is not your home or group — お邪魔します is more appropriate

Origin & History

Short for ただいま帰りました (tadaima kaerimashita, 'I have just now returned'). ただいま literally means 'just now.' A fundamental Japanese household phrase with deep cultural roots.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional, used for centuries

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. One of the first phrases taught to children. The ただいま/おかえり pair is a cornerstone of Japanese domestic culture.