Itterasshai, Tadaima & Ittekimasu Meaning: Japanese Greetings at Home

What do “Ittekimasu,” “Itterasshai,” and “Tadaima” mean in Japanese?
These are common Japanese greetings used at home every day.

Ittekimasu (いってきます) means “I’m leaving” or “I’ll go and come back.”
Itterasshai (いってらっしゃい) is said to someone who is leaving, similar to “See you” or “Have a good day.”
Tadaima (ただいま) means “I’m home” and is said when you return home.

In this article, you’ll learn these expressions and other useful Japanese greetings for everyday life.

Check out their meanings one by one!

 

 

What do Ittekimasu, Itterasshai and Tadaima mean?

Ittekimasu（いってきます）

Ittekimasu means “I’m leaving now, and I’ll be back.”

This word is used when leaving the house or your place of work.

“Ittekimasu” is said by the person who is leaving.
However, it’s used in a different context than “sayonara”.
“Ittekimasu” is used when the person who is leaving expects to return.

Itterasshai（いってらっしゃい）

Itterasshai means “Have a good day” or “See you when you get back.”

“IItterasshai”  is the response to “Ittekimasu”.

When somebody is leaving and says “Ittekimasu”, you should respond with “Itterasshai”.
You can even say “Itterasshai” first as someone is leaving.

“IItterasshai” is often used as a set with “Ki wo tsuketene”, which will be introduced below, and it is used with the feelings of being careful.

Ki wo tsuketene（気をつけてね）

Ki wo tsuketene means “Take care” or “Stay safe.”

In Japan “Ki wo tsuketene” is a commonly used, everyday phrase. It’s an important way of showing concern and caring during farewells.

With the feelings of wishing for safety.

It is a way of telling somebody who is leaving to be wary of trouble, avoid injury and return safely.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is an essential phrase to use when saying farewells to an important person in your life.

Tadaima（ただいま）

Tadaima means “I’m home” or “I’m back.”

This is an expression used after “Ittekimasu” and “Itterasshai” by the person that left, upon their return.

Okaerinasai（おかえりなさい）

Okaerinasai means “Welcome back.”

It can be used when someone returns.
“Okaerinasai” is formal and “Okaeri” is casual.

Itadakimasu（いただきます）

Itadakimasu means “Let’s eat,” but there is no exact English translation.

It is said before eating a meal and expresses appreciation for the food and the people involved in preparing it.

In English, “Let’s eat” or “Let’s dig in” may sound similar in some situations, but the meaning and cultural nuance are different.

Gochisousama deshita（ごちそうさまでした）

Gochisousama deshita means “Thank you for the meal.”

It is a Japanese phrase commonly said after finishing a meal to express appreciation for the food and the people who prepared it.

There is no exact English translation. Depending on the situation, it can be understood as “Thank you for the meal” or “That was a great meal.”

The casual form is “Gochisousama,” while “Gochisousama deshita” is more polite.

 

This is a special situation where you may use it.
You can say “Gochisousama deshita” after you finished your meal, but you can also say it if someone pays for your meal.

を、こうすると自然。

You can also use “Gochisousama deshita” when someone treats you to a meal.

In this situation, it is a way of expressing your appreciation to the person who paid for the meal.

 

Oyasuminasai（おやすみなさい）

Oyasuminasai means “Good night.”

“Oyasuminasai” is a polite way to say “Good night” in Japanese, while “Oyasumi” is the more casual form.

You can use “Oyasumi” with family members, friends, and other people you are close to. When someone says “Oyasumi” to you, you can simply reply, “Oyasumi.”

 

Thanks for reading!