synonym Comparative
お帰り
VS
今さら
Differences Between "お帰り" and "今さら"
Option A
お帰り
Meaning
Welcome home; Welcome back (used when someone returns)
Reading
おかえり (okaeri)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
「ただいま!」「お帰り!」
"I'm home!" "Welcome home!"
Option B
今さら
Meaning
now (when it is already too late); at this late hour; (not) at all
Reading
いまさら (imasara)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
今さら後悔しても、もう遅い。
It's too late to regret it now.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(Welcome home; Welcome back (used when someone returns))"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- お帰り: A common greeting said to someone who has returned home or to a place they belong. Usually used in the phrase 「おかえりなさい」(okaerinasai) which is more polite. (家や自分の場所に戻ってきた人に対して使われる一般的な挨拶。「おかえりなさい」はより丁寧な言い方です。)
- 今さら: Expresses a feeling of 'it's too late now' or 'what's the point now?', implying regret, futility, or a sense of being out of place. (「もう遅すぎる」「今となっては意味がない」という後悔や徒労感、あるいは場違い感を伴うニュアンスを持つ。)
- お帰り: A common greeting said to someone who has returned home or to a place they belong. Usually used in the phrase 「おかえりなさい」(okaerinasai) which is more polite. (家や自分の場所に戻ってきた人に対して使われる一般的な挨拶。「おかえりなさい」はより丁寧な言い方です。)
- 今さら: Expresses a feeling of 'it's too late now' or 'what's the point now?', implying regret, futility, or a sense of being out of place. (「もう遅すぎる」「今となっては意味がない」という後悔や徒労感、あるいは場違い感を伴うニュアンスを持つ。)
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