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I was wondering what the literal translation really means. I've seen it
translated as `I'm home` but I've also seen it in a few situations where the
person wasn't arriving home.
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2012-05-28T12:42:48.393
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2018-01-27T07:54:57.473
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question
usage definitions idioms
What does ただいま actually mean?
The [ただいま]{LHHH} that you say when you arrive home is a contraction of
ただ今帰りました.  
(ただ = たった/just, 今 = now, 帰りました = (I) came back / came home / returned)  

I think one other situation you're talking about might be where you say
「ただいま」, 'Certainly, sir' / 'Yes sir, I'll do that right away' / 'Yes, I'll be
right with you', etc., when someone tells you to do something or calls you,
and probably rushes you. I think this [ただいま]{LHLL} (with a stress on だ and a
falling tone on いま) literally means 'right now' 'right away', like
「（はい、）たった今（行きます/参ります。」 or 「（はい、）今すぐに（します/やります）。」
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2012-05-28T18:31:41.220
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2018-01-27T07:54:57.473
2018-01-27T07:54:57.473
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answer