ただいま
tadaima
I'm home
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Japanese greeting used immediately upon entering your own home to announce your return.
- Means: 'I'm home' or 'I'm back' (literally 'just now').
- Used in: Entering your house, returning to the office, or coming back to a group.
- Don't confuse: Never say this when entering someone else's home for the first time.
Explanation at your level:
मतलब
A phrase said upon returning home.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
The 'Genkan' (entryway) is where 'Tadaima' is said. It's a physical and spiritual transition point. Saying 'Tadaima modorimashita' is a sign of 'Horenso' (Report-Contact-Consult), showing you are back and ready to collaborate. Characters often say 'Tadaima' to an empty house to show they are lonely or to show they finally have a place to belong. In tea ceremony or traditional arts, the concept of 'returning' to a state of mind is often linked to these daily greetings.
The 'Ma' Rule
Elongate the 'ma' (Tadaimaaa!) to sound more casual and happy to be home.
Don't be a Guest
Remember: 'Tadaima' is for insiders. Using it as a guest can sound overly familiar or even arrogant.
मतलब
A phrase said upon returning home.
The 'Ma' Rule
Elongate the 'ma' (Tadaimaaa!) to sound more casual and happy to be home.
Don't be a Guest
Remember: 'Tadaima' is for insiders. Using it as a guest can sound overly familiar or even arrogant.
The Office Return
In a Japanese office, say 'Tadaima modorimashita' loudly enough for your immediate team to hear. It's polite and professional.
Saying it to Pets
It is perfectly normal and common to say 'Tadaima' to your cat or dog!
खुद को परखो
You just walked into your own apartment. What do you say?
Choose the best greeting:
'Tadaima' is for returning to your own home. 'Ojamashimasu' is for someone else's home.
Complete the conversation between a husband and wife.
Husband: ただいま！ Wife: ________。
'Okaerinasai' is the standard polite response to 'Tadaima.'
Match the phrase to the correct setting.
1. ただいま (Casual) 2. ただいま戻りました (Formal)
The short form is for family; the longer form is for professional settings.
Fill in the missing kanji for the formal version.
只今{＿|＿}りました。
In an office, '{戻|もど}りました' is the standard formal completion.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालYou don't *have* to, but many Japanese people do. It's a way to acknowledge your own space and transition into 'home mode.'
'Ima' just means 'now.' 'Tadaima' is the set greeting. You can't use 'Ima' to mean 'I'm home.'
Yes, it's the perfect casual greeting for partners living together.
Yes, '{只今|ただいま}', but it is most commonly written in hiragana.
It's not a sin, but your family might feel a bit ignored or surprised by your sudden presence.
Yes! It's a very common sentiment to say 'Tadaima, Nippon!' when landing.
It's better to use 'Tadaima kaerimashita' to show respect to in-laws unless you are very close.
It signals that you've finished your outside task and are back to help the team.
No, 'Tadaima' itself is an adverb. The verb it's based on (kaerimashita) is already in the past tense.
If you are returning to a classroom, 'Tadaima modorimashita' is appropriate.
संबंधित मुहावरे
おかえり
complementWelcome back.
いってきます
contrastI'm leaving (and coming back).
お{邪魔|じゃま}します
similarExcuse me for disturbing you.
ただいまのところ
specialized formAt the moment.
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
Returning from school
Child: ただいまー！
Parent: おかえり。おやつあるよ。
Returning to the office
Employee: ただいま{戻|もど}りました。
Colleague: お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}です。おかえりなさい。
Living alone
Self: ただいま。
Silence: ...
Returning to a restaurant table
Friend A: ただいま。
Friend B: おかえり。ビール{来|き}たよ。
Returning to a hotel
Guest: ただいま。
Staff: おかえりなさいませ。
Returning from a long trip
Traveler: {日本|にっぽん}に、ただいま！
Friend: おかえり！{寂|さび}しかったよ。
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Tada!' (like a magic reveal) + 'I'm a...' (Tada-ima). Tada! I'm a person who is home!
Visual Association
Imagine a pair of shoes being kicked off in a wooden entryway while a warm light glows from the kitchen. The word 'Tadaima' is the sound of the door clicking shut.
Rhyme
Tadaima, I'm back in the pajama!
Story
You've been out in the cold, busy world all day. You reach your door, turn the key, and as you step onto the tatami mat, you shout 'Tadaima!' to let the house know you're back. The house breathes a sigh of relief and answers 'Okaeri!'
Word Web
चैलेंज
Next time you enter your room or house, say 'Tadaima' out loud, even if you are alone. Try to match the rising intonation on the 'ma'.
In Other Languages
I'm home / I'm back
Japanese is a mandatory social ritual; English is optional information.
Ya llegué / Ya estoy en casa
Spanish uses a past tense verb, whereas 'Tadaima' is a time-based adverb.
Je suis rentré(e)
French is a full sentence; Japanese is a shortened phrase.
Ich bin wieder da
German focuses on the state of being back.
أنا جيت (Ana geet)
Arabic is less about the 'home' boundary and more about the arrival.
我回来了 (Wǒ huíláile)
Chinese almost always includes the subject 'I' (Wǒ).
다녀왔습니다 (Danyeowatseumnida)
Korean literally mentions the 'going' part as well.
Cheguei
Portuguese is a single verb in the past tense.
Easily Confused
Both are daily house greetings.
Tadaima = Arriving. Ittekimasu = Leaving.
Learners forget which one is 'I'm home' and which is 'Welcome home.'
The person moving says 'Tadaima.' The person sitting says 'Okaeri.'
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)
You don't *have* to, but many Japanese people do. It's a way to acknowledge your own space and transition into 'home mode.'
'Ima' just means 'now.' 'Tadaima' is the set greeting. You can't use 'Ima' to mean 'I'm home.'
Yes, it's the perfect casual greeting for partners living together.
Yes, '{只今|ただいま}', but it is most commonly written in hiragana.
It's not a sin, but your family might feel a bit ignored or surprised by your sudden presence.
Yes! It's a very common sentiment to say 'Tadaima, Nippon!' when landing.
It's better to use 'Tadaima kaerimashita' to show respect to in-laws unless you are very close.
It signals that you've finished your outside task and are back to help the team.
No, 'Tadaima' itself is an adverb. The verb it's based on (kaerimashita) is already in the past tense.
If you are returning to a classroom, 'Tadaima modorimashita' is appropriate.
