Use of ただいま to others who are not physically present


Imagine that I live alone. Occasionally when I get home, I still want to
announce that I'm home (such as with a text message) because perhaps my
parents are making sure I got home safely or perhaps an online friend wants to
do stuff together.

Would ただいま still be an appropriate announcement here? Or is there some other
way to announce that I'm home to someone who is not physically present in the
house?




I would use 今家に着いたよ or something along those lines.

You do occasionally see (for example, in novels), a person say ただいま to an
empty room to emphasize the speaker's lonesome state, such as if he's lost a
loved one, or that he's simply feeling lonely, etc. but you won't be saying
ただいま to someone who you're in conversation with.

A more modern youngster might well prefer something like 帰宅なう though... or is
that already too old?




I would use 今家に着いたよ or something along those lines.

You do occasionally see (for example, in novels), a person say ただいま to an
empty room to emphasize the speaker's lonesome state, such as if he's lost a
loved one, or that he's simply feeling lonely, etc. but you won't be saying
ただいま to someone who you're in conversation with.

A more modern youngster might well prefer something like 帰宅なう though... or is
that already too old?

