{"id":106728,"date":"2017-09-27T23:02:34","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T03:02:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/japanese-phone-conversation\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T03:35:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T08:35:32","slug":"japanese-phone-conversation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/japanese-phone-conversation\/","title":{"rendered":"Casual and Formal Phone Conversation in Japanese (with Sample Dialogues)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phone usage in Japan is nearly as widespread as in the US<\/a>, with the number of smartphone users in Japan expected to reach 92% of Japanese people by 2025. This makes phones nearly ubiquitous in Japanese culture, so it’s extremely important to learn how to make phone calls in Japanese. This is doubly true in official, formal and business environments<\/a>, which have their own rules for phone calls and politeness.<\/p>\n

Learn the key phrases and etiquette that you’ll need to know to have a casual or formal phone conversation in Japanese.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

How to Answer the Phone in Japanese:\u00a0Moshi moshi<\/em> (\u3082\u3057\u3082\u3057)<\/h2>\n

No matter where you are (at home, at the office, etc.), you can use this phrase to answer the phone.<\/p>\n

The phrase\u00a0moshi moshi\u00a0<\/em>comes from the humble verb mosu<\/em><\/a> (\u7533\u3059), which means “to say.” Back when operators needed to connect calls to their recipients, Japanese people would say mosu mosu <\/em>to ensure their voices reached the operators. Over time, this morphed into moshi moshi<\/em>, which is still used today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Note that you cannot use\u00a0moshi moshi<\/em> to say “hello” in any other situation except over the phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can also answer the phone by stating your name or by thanking the caller for calling you. In the following section, we’ll see a few other ways to answer the phone in more polite scenarios, including the two methods I just mentioned.<\/p>\n

Formal Phone Phrases<\/h2>\n

Answering the phone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Romaji<\/th>Japanese<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
This is Mr. [Name].<\/td>[Name] desu.<\/em><\/td> [\u540d\u524d]\u3067\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
This is [Name] from [Name] company.<\/td>[Namae]-sha no [namae] desu.<\/em><\/td> [\u540d\u524d]\u793e\u306e[\u540d\u524d]\u3067\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Who is calling?<\/td>Donata kara no o denwa deshou ka?<\/em><\/td> \u3069\u306a\u305f\u304b\u3089\u306e\u304a\u96fb\u8a71\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thank you very much for your cooperation.<\/td>Douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.<\/em><\/td> \u3069\u3046\u305e\u3088\u308d\u3057\u304f\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thank you for calling.<\/td>O denwa arigatou gozaimasu.<\/em><\/td> \u304a\u96fb\u8a71\u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
May I ask the purpose of your call?<\/td>O denwa no mokuteki o o ukagai shite mo yoroshii deshou ka?<\/em><\/td> \u304a\u96fb\u8a71\u306e\u76ee\u7684\u3092\u304a\u4f3a\u3044\u3057\u3066\u3082\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Asking to speak to someone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Romaji<\/th>Japanese<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Is this Mr. [Name]?<\/td>[Namae]-samade yoroshii deshou ka?<\/em><\/td> [\u540d\u524d] \u69d8\u3067\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b?\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
May I speak to [Name]?<\/td>[Namae]-san to ohanashi shite mo yoroshii deshou ka?<\/em><\/td> [\u540d\u524d]\u3055\u3093\u3068\u304a\u8a71\u3057\u3066\u3082\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Is this the [Name] residence?<\/td>Kochira wa [namae]-sama no juukyo desu ka?<\/em><\/td> \u3053\u3061\u3089\u306f [\u540d\u524d] \u69d8\u306e\u4f4f\u5c45\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
May I speak with Mr. [Name]?<\/td> [Namae]-san to ohanashi sa sete itadaite mo yoroshii deshou ka?<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>[\u540d\u524d]\u3055\u3093\u3068\u304a\u8a71\u3055\u305b\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3044\u3066\u3082\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b\uff1f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Excuse me, is [Name] available?<\/td>[Namae]-san wa gotsugou ga yoroshii deshou ka?<\/em><\/td> [\u540d\u524d] \u3055\u3093\u306f\u3054\u90fd\u5408\u304c\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Being asked to speak to someone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Romaji<\/th>Japanese<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yes, this is Mr. [Name].<\/td>Hai, [namae]-san desu.<\/em><\/td> \u306f\u3044\u3001[\u540d\u524d]\u3055\u3093\u3067\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yes, I'll forward you to Mr. [Name].<\/td>Hai, [namae]-san ni tensou shimasu.<\/em><\/td> \u306f\u3044\u3001[\u540d\u524d]\u3055\u3093\u306b\u8ee2\u9001\u3057\u307e\u3059 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I'm sorry, he's on another call.<\/td>Mou shiwake gozaimasen ga, betsu no denwa ni dete orimasu.<\/em><\/td> \u7533\u3057\u8a33\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u305b\u3093\u304c\u3001\u5225\u306e\u96fb\u8a71\u306b\u51fa\u3066\u304a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They are not at their desk right now.<\/td>Tadaima fuzaidesu.<\/em><\/td> \u53ea\u4eca\u4e0d\u5728\u3067\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He will return your call when he gets back.<\/td>Modori shidai orikaeshi go renraku itashimasu.<\/em><\/td> \u623b\u308a\u6b21\u7b2c\u3001\u6298\u308a\u8fd4\u3057\u3054\u9023\u7d61\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Asking for clarification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Romaji<\/th>Japanese<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Could you speak more slowly please?<\/td>Mou sukoshi yukkuri ohanashi itadakemasu ka?<\/em><\/td> \u3082\u3046\u5c11\u3057\u3086\u3063\u304f\u308a\u304a\u8a71\u3057\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3051\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Could you say that again?<\/td>Mou ichido itte itadakemasu ka?<\/em><\/td> \u3082\u3046\u4e00\u5ea6\u8a00\u3063\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3051\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Leaving and taking a message<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Romaji<\/th>Japanese<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Could I leave a message, please?<\/td>Dengon o onegai shite mo yoroshii deshou ka?<\/em><\/td> \u4f1d\u8a00\u3092\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u3066\u3082\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Can you let [Name] know that I called?<\/td>[Name] san ni denwa ga atta koto o tsutaete itadakemasu ka?<\/em><\/td> [\u540d\u524d]\u3055\u3093\u306b\u96fb\u8a71\u304c\u3042\u3063\u305f\u3053\u3068\u3092\u4f1d\u3048\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3051\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Please ask [Name] to call me back.<\/td>[Name] san ni orikaeshi denwa o onegai dekimasu ka?<\/em><\/td> [\u540d\u524d]\u3055\u3093\u306b\u6298\u308a\u8fd4\u3057\u96fb\u8a71\u3092\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Would you mind taking a message?<\/td>Dengon o onegai shite mo ii desu ka? <\/em><\/td> \u4f1d\u8a00\u3092\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Would you like to leave a message?<\/td>Dengon o nokosaremasu ka?<\/em><\/td> \u4f1d\u8a00\u3092\u6b8b\u3055\u308c\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Common formal phone phrases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Romaji<\/th>Japanese<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Thank you for your continued support.<\/td>Osewa ni natte orimasu.<\/em><\/td> \u304a\u4e16\u8a71\u306b\u306a\u3063\u3066\u304a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I apologize for the wait.<\/td>O-matase itashimashita.<\/em><\/td> \u304a\u5f85\u305f\u305b\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Please hold for a moment.<\/td>Shoushou omachi kudasai.<\/em><\/td> \u5c11\u3005\u304a\u5f85\u3061\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Ending the conversation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Romaji<\/th>Japanese<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Sorry for bothering you.<\/td>O-jama shite sumimasen.<\/em><\/td> \u304a\u90aa\u9b54\u3057\u3066\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I apologize for bothering you.<\/td>Go-meiwaku o okake shite moushiwake arimasen.<\/em><\/td> \u3054\u8ff7\u60d1\u3092\u304a\u304b\u3051\u3057\u3066\u7533\u3057\u8a33\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Casual Phone Phrases<\/h2>\n

Less scripted, more like normal face-to-face conversations. Some common phrases from casual phone conversations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>Romaji<\/th>Japanese<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
How are you?<\/td>Genki?<\/em><\/td> \u5143\u6c17\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Can you talk now?<\/td>Ima, hanaseru?<\/em><\/td> \u4eca\u3001\u8a71\u305b\u308b\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What are you doing?<\/td>Nani shiteru no?<\/em><\/td> \u4f55\u3057\u3066\u308b\u306e\uff1f <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hold on a second.<\/td>Chotto matte.<\/em><\/td> \u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\u5f85\u3063\u3066\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I'll call you back later.<\/td>Ato de kake naosu ne.<\/em><\/td> \u5f8c\u3067\u304b\u3051\u76f4\u3059\u306d\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Talk to you later.<\/td>Mata ne.<\/em><\/td> \u307e\u305f\u306d\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Let's meet soon.<\/td>Chikai uchi ni aou.<\/em><\/td> \u8fd1\u3044\u3046\u3061\u306b\u4f1a\u304a\u3046\u3002 <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Using Aizuchi in Phone Conversations<\/h2>\n

In Japanese phone conversations, dead air is very uncomfortable. The listener should let the speaker know that they’re paying attention constantly. They do this by using aizuchi<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> which is phrases and interjections made exactly for this reason.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can say hai<\/em> (\u306f\u3044), which means “yes,” throughout the conversation to show the speaker that you’re still there.\u00a0 But be careful of how you say it: hai<\/em> with a rising intonation (\u306f\u3044\uff1f) is often used to indicate that you missed some information.<\/p>\n

You can also use various Japanese filler words<\/a>, like un<\/em> (\u3046\u3093) or ee<\/em> (\u3048\u3048), in a casual conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In business situations, one of these polite responses should be used:<\/p>\n

\u306f\u3044\u3001 \u5206\u304b\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002 (Hai, wakarimashita.)<\/em> \u2014 Yes, understood.<\/p>\n

\u304b\u3057\u3053\u307e\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002 (Kashikomarimashita.) \u2014 Understood.<\/p>\n

Sample Japanese Phone Conversations<\/h2>\n

Below are three sample conversations you might have on the phone in Japanese. But don’t stop after these three\u2014find more examples on the FluentU program<\/a>, along with many other authentic videos paired with learning tools.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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