Japanese Phone Conversations: How to Call and What to Say

Why Phone Japanese Is Harder Than Face-to-Face

Talking on the phone in Japanese feels harder than in-person conversations because you can’t rely on facial expressions, gestures, or context clues. Phone calls also have their own special vocabulary — formal expressions you don’t use in everyday conversation. This guide prepares you for the most common phone scenarios.

Phone Conversation Vocabulary

Dialogue 1: Calling a Friend

A： もしもし、たなかです。サトウさんですか。
(Moshi moshi, Tanaka desu. Satou-san desu ka.) — Hello, this is Tanaka. Is this Satou?

B： ああ、たなかさん！どうしたの？
(Aa, Tanaka-san! Dou shita no?) — Oh, Tanaka! What’s up?

A： きょうの やくそく、いちじかん おくれても いいかな。
(Kyou no yakusoku, ichijikan okurete mo ii kana.) — I wonder if it’s okay if I’m an hour late for today’s appointment.

B： うん、だいじょうぶだよ。ゆっくりきて。
(Un, daijoubu da yo. Yukkuri kite.) — Sure, that’s fine. Take your time.

Dialogue 2: Business Call

うけつけ： はい、やまだしょうじで ございます。
(Hai, Yamada Shouji de gozaimasu.) — Yes, this is Yamada Trading.

A： わたくし、たなかしょうじの たなかと もうします。えいぎょうぶの すずきさんを おねがいしたいのですが。
(Watakushi, Tanaka Shouji no Tanaka to moushimasu. Eigyoubu no Suzuki-san wo onegai shitai no desu ga.) — I’m Tanaka from Tanaka Trading. I’d like to speak with Mr. Suzuki in the sales department.

うけつけ： すずきですね。しょうしょう おまちください。
(Suzuki desu ne. Shoushou omachi kudasai.) — Suzuki, understood. Please hold a moment.

Key Business Call Pattern

When calling a company, identify yourself fully:

わたくし、[会社名]の[自分の名前]と もうします。
Watakushi, [company] no [your name] to moushimasu.
I am [your name] from [company].

Comprehension Questions

1. What does もしもし mean and when is it used?
2. In Dialogue 1, why is Tanaka calling?
3. In Dialogue 2, who is being asked for?

Answers: 1. “Hello” — only used on the phone, not in face-to-face conversations. / 2. To say he’ll be an hour late. / 3. Mr. Suzuki in the sales department.

Yuka & Rei Practise a Phone Call

Reading and listening get better when you also reflect and discuss. Here is how Yuka and Rei unpack the key ideas from this topic — notice the questions Yuka asks, because they’re probably the same ones you had.

Yuka

Rei, I need to make a phone call to a Japanese company. I’m terrified. What do I say when someone picks up?

Rei

Start with: もしもし、〜のYukaともうします。〜さんはいらっしゃいますか？ — Hello, my name is Yuka from ~. Is ~ available? Then wait. 90% of business calls follow this opening.

Yuka

What if the person I want isn’t there?

Rei

They’ll say ただいませきをはずしております — They’re currently away from their desk. You can reply: では、のちほどかけなおします — In that case, I’ll call back later. Or: おつたえいただけますか？ — Could you pass on a message? Simple and professional.

5 Practice Sentences — Read These Aloud

These sentences use core vocabulary from this article. Read each one aloud at least three times to lock in the sound pattern.

1. もしもし、〜もうしますが、〜さんはいらっしゃいますか？
   Hello, my name is ~. Is ~ available?
2. すこしおまちいただけますか？
   Could you please hold for a moment?
3. のちほどかけなおします。しつれいします。
   I’ll call again later. Goodbye.
4. でんわばんごうをもういちどおしえていただけますか？
   Could you tell me the phone number once more?
5. おでんわありがとうございました。
   Thank you for your call.

Your Turn! Leave Your Answer in the Comments

Reading and listening improve fastest when you also produce. Try writing 2–3 sentences summarising what you read, or create your own short text on the same topic using vocabulary from this article.

Post it in the comments — other learners will read it and it helps everyone. Log in to save your comment history and join the Top Commenters ranking in the sidebar!

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