「」「」
"I'm home~" "Welcome back."
Literal
"Right-now~" "Please-return."
The textbook home-arrival exchange. ただいま (literally 'right now,' from 只今) is the fixed greeting used when returning home, announcing one's arrival. お帰りなさい (literally 'please return,' a softened imperative) is the reciprocal greeting welcoming the person back. Both are frozen expressions — the literal meanings have been completely displaced by the ritual greeting function. Note the elongated ー on ただいまー in the quoted speech, indicating a cheerful, slightly stretched delivery. This pair is one of the first greeting-exchanges every Japanese learner memorizes.