Source : https://cotoacademy.com/ittekimasu/
The phrases, ittekimasu, itterasshai, tadaima, okaerinasai symbolize so well Japanese spirit that once you grasp the nuance of their meaning you will have a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.
Posted by Coto Academy on July 20, 2016 ? Japanese Study
Source: https://cotoacademy.com/ittekimasu/
The phrases, ittekimasu, itterasshai, tadaima, okaerinasai symbolize so well Japanese spirit that once you grasp the nuance of their meaning you will have a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.
Although the words are easily translated to English, the Japanese spirit behind them is somewhat lost in translation.
Ittekimasu! Itterasshai!
If you are about to leave somewhere, mainly home or the office, a Japanese will say ?ittekimasu? to the remaining people. The closest literal translation is ?I?ll go and I come back? but a more natural translation would be ?see you later?.
People remaining inside the home or the office reply then ?itterasshai?. Literally ?please go and come back?, the phrase is also close to a ?see you later?, ?have a good day?, or ?take care? but none of those expressions truly express the spirit behind the word.
?Ittekimasu? expresses that ?I will be going now but do not worry, I will safely return? while ?itterasshai? indicates that ?You will be leaving soon but please do come back safely?.
Toshio-kun: I am going to buy ice cream.Mika-san: Nice! Thank you!Toshio-kun: I am going! (?I am going and I come back?)Mika-san: See you later! (?Please go and come back?)
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Mika-san: Mum, I am going out now!Mum: Mika, where are you going?Mika-san: Watch movie with my friend. I am a bit late, so bye bye! I am going!Mum: See you later, be careful!
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?Ittekimasu? is not a simple goodbye and should not be employed as such. It implies that you will return to the place you are leaving, hence the ?itterasshai? as a reply, from the person waiting for you. Although there is no absolute rule, most of the time ?ittekimasu? comes first. Exchanging these two terms emit a strong and warm feeling of returning back safely to the place where one belongs.
Source: https://cotoacademy.com/ittekimasu/
Tadaima! Okaeri!
Similar to the ?ittekimasu? and ?itterasshai?, the two phrases that go hand-in-hand, ?tadaima? and ?okaeri? express one?s safe return.
Toshio has returned with two cones of ice cream?
Toshio: I am back! I have bought Vanilla ice cream.Mika-san: Welcome back! Thank you Toshio~
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Mika-san: I am home!Mum: Welcome home! Was it fun?Mika-san: Yes!
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Literally, ?tadaima? means ?right now?. However, in this specific context, the phrase is the shortened version of ?tadaima kaerimashita? which translates to ?I came home right now?. ?Okaeri? and the polite version ?okaerinasai? means ?welcome home?, ?welcome back?. These two lovely phrases express the feelings of ?I am back, safely? and ?You have finally returned, welcome back?. It gives one a warm feeling that someone has been waiting for one?s safe return.
All together, ?ittekimasu?, ?itterasshai?, ?tadaima? and ?okaeri? are four beautiful Japanese expressions that are exchanged between the Japanese people on day-to-day basis. Now you have understood the rich meaning behind these four phrases, are you ready to use them?
Looking to learn more Fun & Easy Japanese? ? please read Nihongo Fun & Easy ? written by Teachers from Coto Japanese Academy
Source: https://cotoacademy.com/ittekimasu/
