Apr 14, 2008 04:13
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Japanese term
ただいま
Japanese to English
Social Sciences
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
I know that だだいま and お帰りなさい is used as a pair when the speaker returns home and his family members greet him. Can we also use them in the business context, i.e. when the speaker has just returned to the office after meeting a client, and his fellow colleagues greet him? If not, what is the appropriate greeting(s) that he should use? Can お疲れ様でした be used by the colleagues in this case? Thanks.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +6 | yes--see below |
KNielsen
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| 5 | I'm home! |
Ruth Sato
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| 4 | I juts come back home |
ngantrinh
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| 3 | yes--it means just now |
lunar_girl
|
Proposed translations
+6
10 mins
Selected
yes--see below
Yes, you can use this in the business context. Each office will have its own "culture" or way of using language too, so the exact usage will sometimes depend on the particular customs of the office, how formal/casual the atmosphere is, etc.
On returning: ただいま ・ 今戻りました are the ones I hear most
commonly
In reply: お帰りなさい ・ お疲れ様（でした）
also used is ご苦労様（でした） although in this context I
would limit its use by a superior talking to a
subordinate
On returning: ただいま ・ 今戻りました are the ones I hear most
commonly
In reply: お帰りなさい ・ お疲れ様（でした）
also used is ご苦労様（でした） although in this context I
would limit its use by a superior talking to a
subordinate
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
KathyT
: Agree - I would simply translate it as "I'm back" - equally natural for home or office... // ;-)
10 mins
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Thanks, Kathy. Yes, I agree with you--didn't think to put the actual meaning! :)
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| agree |
yumom
43 mins
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Thank you, yumom!
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| agree |
Duncan Adam
: Yes, although since the person going out and returning is usually the manager, they're probably too important to bother saying anything! I have always heard lots of 'itterasshai' and 'okaerinasai' from subordinates..
4 hrs
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Thanks, Duncan! Yes, that is very true...you can always tell the relative importance of a person by how little they can get away with saying!
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| agree |
michiko tsum (X)
16 hrs
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Thank you, Michiko!
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| agree |
kirtimanik70
1 day 9 hrs
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Thank you!
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| agree |
Maria Deutsch
: young salespeople, especially new college grads, also go out a lot. In this case it's indeed the manager who will say "ご苦労様"
6 days
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Thanks, Maria!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks. THis confirms my understanding."
11 hrs
lunar_girl
good quality, accurate, negotiable rate
Native in: Indonesian 
Works in: English to Indonesian, Japanese to Indonesian, Japanese to English, and 2 more.
yes--it means just now
for example in a shop you'll hear 'ただいま全部の商品は半角となります/ただいまご来店誠にありがとうございました’,or you may hear "社長はただいま席を外してます" (the boss is not here right now).
1 day 21 hrs
I'm home!
All of the explanations of the other translators are exactly correct in meaning, but if you want an equivalent, we say, "I'm home!" upon returning to our house (at least in the U.S.). Good luck!
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Note added at 1 day21 hrs (2008-04-16 01:27:05 GMT)
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Sorry, I didn't see the part about the office at first! In the case of returning to a business office, "I'm back", is best.
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Note added at 1 day21 hrs (2008-04-16 01:27:05 GMT)
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Sorry, I didn't see the part about the office at first! In the case of returning to a business office, "I'm back", is best.
Discussion