The homecoming greeting is shortened from ただいま帰りました, “I have just returned.”
The homecoming greeting is shortened from ただいま帰りました, “I have just returned.”
When do I say ただいま?
Say it when you return home or to a familiar group.
How does someone reply?
A usual reply is おかえりなさい or the shorter おかえり.
Can it mean “right now”?
Yes. In announcements it often means at the moment or immediately.
What was the longer greeting?
It is shortened from ただいま帰りました, “I have just returned.”
Is the greeting written in kanji?
The greeting is usually written ただいま; 只今 is common for the time adverb.