Japanese Phone Expressions

You’ve memorized your greetings, practiced your keigo, and even managed a few conversations at the convenience store. But then your phone rings — and suddenly everything you know seems to disappear. Phone calls in Japanese have their own vocabulary, their own rhythm, and their own social rules. Miss even one of them and the whole call can become awkward. This guide gives you every phrase you need, from the first “hello” to the final goodbye — in casual, polite, and business-level Japanese.

Situation	Japanese	Reading	English Meaning
Answering (casual)	もしもし！	moshimoshi	Hello! (friends and family only)
Answering (business)	はい、〇〇でございます。	hai, ○○ de gozaimasu	Yes, this is [company/name]. (formal)
Introducing yourself	〇〇と申します。	○○ to moushimasu.	My name is [name]. (humble, business)
Asking who is calling	どちらさまでしょうか？	Dochira-sama de shō ka?	May I ask who is calling?
Asking for someone	〇〇さんはいらっしゃいますか？	○○-san wa irasshaimasu ka?	Is [name] available?
Asking to wait	少々お待ちください。	Shōshō o-machi kudasai.	Please hold for a moment.
Person is out	ただ今席を外しております。	Tada ima seki o hazushite orimasu.	[Name] has stepped away from their desk.
Leaving a message	伝言をお願いできますか？	Dengon o o-negai dekimasu ka?	Could I leave a message?
Asking for callback	折り辺しお電話いただけますか？	Orikaeshi o-denwa itadakemasu ka?	Could you ask [name] to call me back?
Bad connection	少し聞こえにくいんですが…	Sukoshi kikoenikui n desu ga…	It’s a little hard to hear you…
Please repeat	もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか？	Mōichido osshatte itadakemasu ka?	Could you say that again? (polite)
Ending (business)	失礼いたします。	Shitsurei itashimasu.	Goodbye. (formal call ending)

Answering the Phone: もしもし and Why It Has Limits

The most iconic Japanese phone word is もしもし（もしもし / moshimoshi）. It works as a casual “hello” on a call, but it has strict limits. It originally comes from 申す（もうす / mousu）, the humble form of 言う — so it literally carries the nuance “I am speaking, I am speaking.” Today, you should only use it with friends, family, or people of the same or lower social standing. Using もしもし in a business call is considered rude and amateurish. In any professional context, the correct answer is はい、〇〇でございます。

Expression	Reading	Meaning / Context
もしもし！	moshimoshi	Casual “hello” on the phone. Friends and family only.
はい、〇〇でございます。	hai, ○○ de gozaimasu	Formal business answer: “Yes, this is [company / name].”
はい、〇〇です。	hai, ○○ desu	Polite personal answer — not top-level keigo, suitable for semi-formal calls.
どうぞ。	dōzo.	After saying your name: “Please go ahead.” Signals you are ready to listen.

Formation note: でございます is the super-polite (teineigo) equivalent of です. It is formed from the verb ござる（ございます）, an honorific for ある (to be / to exist for things). You will hear it in every professional phone call in Japan.

Introducing Yourself and Calling for Someone

When you call someone and they do not answer directly — maybe a family member picks up, or a receptionist at a company — you need to identify yourself and ask for the right person politely. Two key patterns carry most of the work here:

Introducing yourself: [Your name] + と申します (to moushimasu) is the humble, professional way to say “My name is …” on the phone. The verb 申す（もうす） is the humble equivalent of 言う. Alternatively, こちらは〇〇です (kochira wa ○○ desu) — “This is [name]” — is slightly more casual and is common in everyday polite calls.

Expression	Reading	When to use
〇〇と申します。	○○ to moushimasu.	Business / formal: “My name is [name].” (humble)
こちらは〇〇です。	Kochira wa ○○ desu.	Polite everyday: “This is [name].”
〇〇会社の〇〇と申します。	○○ gaisha no ○○ to moushimasu.	“I am [name] from [company].” Standard business opener.
〇〇さんはいらっしゃいますか？	○○-san wa irasshaimasu ka?	Polite/business: “Is [name] available?”
〇〇さんをお願いできますか？	○○-san o o-negai dekimasu ka?	Polite: “May I speak with [name]?”

Key nuance: いらっしゃいます is the honorific (sonkeigo) form of いる (to be / to exist for people). You use it to elevate the person you are asking about. For yourself, you use 申す（もうす）, the humble (kenjougo) form of 言う. This contrast — lifting the other person while lowering yourself — is the foundation of keigo phone etiquette.

Notice how a casual call between friends skips all formality: no でございます, no 申します — just direct, warm conversation. The contrast with business calls below is stark.

When the Person Is Not Available: Messages and Callbacks

If the person you are calling is unavailable, you will hear one of Japan’s most important phone phrases: ただ今席を外しております（ただいま席を外しております / tada ima seki o hazushite orimasu） — “[Name] has just stepped away from their desk.” This phrase is used even when the person is simply busy or does not want to take the call. You also need to know how to respond gracefully — either by leaving a message or requesting a callback.

Expression	Reading	Meaning
ただ今席を外しております。	Tada ima seki o hazushite orimasu.	“[Name] has stepped away from their desk.” Standard unavailable phrase.
ただ今外出中でございます。	Tada ima gaishutsu-chū de gozaimasu.	“[Name] is currently out of the office.” Used when they have left the building.
伝言をお願いできますか？	Dengon o o-negai dekimasu ka?	“Could I leave a message?”
お電話がありましたことをお伝えいただけますか？	O-denwa ga arimashita koto o o-tsutae itadakemasu ka?	“Could you let [name] know I called?”
折り辺しお電話いただけますか？	Orikaeshi o-denwa itadakemasu ka?	“Could you ask [name] to call me back?”
またかけ直します。	Mata kakenaoshimasu.	“I will call again later.”

Cultural tip: In Japanese business culture, it is very common to say のちほどかけなおします（nochihodo kakenaoshimasu — “I will call back later”） rather than immediately asking for a callback. Asking for a callback straight away can feel presumptuous in formal settings. Offering to call again shows you respect the other person’s schedule.

Dealing with Bad Reception

Japan has excellent mobile coverage overall, but bad connections still happen — especially in tunnels, underground train stations, or mountainous areas. Knowing how to describe a bad connection politely is a real-life necessity, and it also shows that you are a confident, capable Japanese speaker even when things go wrong.

Expression	Reading	Meaning
聞こえますか？	Kikoemasu ka?	“Can you hear me?” (casual / neutral)
少し聞こえにくいんですが…	Sukoshi kikoenikui n desu ga…	“It’s a little hard to hear you…” (soft, polite)
声が遠いです。	Koe ga tooi desu.	“Your voice sounds far away.” (the connection is poor)
電波が悪いんです。	Denpa ga warui n desu.	“The signal is bad.”
切れてしまいそうなので、かけ直します。	Kirete shimaisou na node, kakenaoshimasu.	“The call might drop, so I’ll call you back.”
もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか？	Mōichido osshatte itadakemasu ka?	“Could you say that again?” (polite, keigo)

Ending the Call: Casual vs Business

How you end a call matters almost as much as how you start it. In Japanese, the closing phrase signals register and relationship — using the wrong one can feel strangely cold or inappropriately casual. There is also an important cultural rule about who hangs up first.

Expression	Reading	Register
失礼いたします。	Shitsurei itashimasu.	Business / formal. “I will be taking my leave.” Said before hanging up.
よろしくお願いいたします。	Yoroshiku o-negai itashimasu.	Business. “I look forward to your continued assistance.” Often said just before 失礼いたします.
失礼します。	Shitsurei shimasu.	Polite (slightly less formal). Everyday office or semi-formal context.
じゃあね。	Jaa ne.	Casual. “See you.” Friends only.
またね。	Mata ne.	Casual. “Talk to you later.” Friends and family.
じゃあ、また。	Jaa, mata.	Casual. “Bye then.” Very relaxed, close relationships.

Cultural rule — who hangs up first? In a business call, it is standard for the caller (the person who made the call) to hang up first. If you are the recipient, wait for the caller to end the call before you do. Hanging up too early is considered rude. In casual calls between friends, there is no strict rule — just match the natural rhythm of the conversation.

Business vs. Casual: Key Language Differences

One of the biggest challenges for learners is switching between casual and business phone Japanese. The vocabulary shifts dramatically — not just in politeness level but in the very words you use to refer to yourself, your company, and the other party.

Concept	Casual / Polite	Business Keigo	Note
“I / we” (self-reference)	わたし (watashi)	わたくしども (watakushidomo)	わたくしども is ultra-formal and means “we” (our company). Reflects collective humility.
Answering	はい、〇〇です	はい、〇〇でございます	でございます replaces です in business.
Asking someone to wait	ちょっと待って。	少々お待ちください。	ちょっと is too casual for business. Always use 少々（shōshō）.
Saying “I understand”	わかりました。	かしこまりました。	かしこまりました is the proper humble form for customer-facing or formal phone use.
Ending the call	またね / じゃあね	失礼いたします	Never use casual endings in a business call.
Opener (ritual greeting)	(none needed)	お世話になっております。	Said at the start of every outgoing business call, even to unfamiliar companies.

What is お世話になっております（おせわになっております）? Literally “I am in your care,” this ritual phrase is said at the start of virtually every outgoing business call in Japan. It acknowledges the ongoing relationship between your companies, even if you have had minimal contact. Think of it as the Japanese business phone equivalent of “Good afternoon, thank you for your time.” Skipping it sounds abrupt and unfamiliar with Japanese business culture.

Full Business Call Dialogue

Here is a complete sample business call. Yuka is calling ABC Company to speak with Mr. Tanaka. Study the full flow — notice the keigo patterns at every stage.

Key phrases from this dialogue: お世話になっております is said even to unfamiliar companies — it is a ritual, not a personal statement. ただ今席を外しております is the most natural way to say someone is unavailable at their desk. かしこまりました is more deferential than わかりました and is expected in formal phone interactions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Wrong	Correct	Why
Using もしもし in business	もしもし！	はい、〇〇でございます。	もしもし is casual and sounds amateurish in any professional context.
Forgetting to introduce yourself	(jumping straight to your request)	〇〇会社の〇〇と申しますが…	Skipping your name and company leaves the recipient with no context — always identify yourself first.
Using ちょっと待って to ask someone to hold	ちょっと待ってください。	少々お待ちください。	ちょっと is casual. Use 少々（shōshō） for business and polite calls.
Using あなた to ask who is calling	あなたは誰ですか？	どちらさまでしょうか？	あなた sounds blunt and rude in a business context. どちらさま is always correct.
Saying わかりました instead of かしこまりました	わかりました。	かしこまりました。	かしこまりました is the proper humble form expected in formal telephone interactions.
Hanging up first as the recipient	Hanging up immediately after saying goodbye	Wait for the caller to hang up first	Japanese phone etiquette: the caller ends the call. The recipient hangs up after the caller.

Casual vs. Business Register: Decision Flowchart

Not sure which register to use? Follow this quick guide before your next call:

Is this a work / company call?
   |
   YES ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   |                                                             |
   Client, senior, or unknown contact?              Close colleague?
   |                                                             |
   YES                                                          YES
   |                                                             |
Use full business keigo:                       Use polite Japanese (desu/masu),
- はい、〇〇でございます                     but でございます is not required.
- お世話になっております opener           - ただ今席を外しています is fine.
- どちらさまでしょうか / 少々お待ちください     - Still use 少々お待ちください for hold.
- 失礼いたします to end
   |
   NO (personal call)
   |
   Friend or family?                        Not sure?
   |                                        |
   YES                                      Use polite middle ground:
   |                                        - はい、〇〇です (no でございます needed)
Use casual:                                 - 失礼します to end
- もしもし
- じゃあね / またね

Quick Quiz

1. You answer a business call at your company. Which phrase do you use?
Answer: はい、〇〇でございます。 (hai, ○○ de gozaimasu) — never もしもし in a business context.

2. How do you politely ask “May I ask who is calling?”
Answer: どちらさまでしょうか？ (Dochira-sama de shō ka?)

3. Fill in the blank: ただ今席を____ております。 (He has stepped away from his desk.)
Answer: 外し — making the full phrase: ただ今席を外しております。

4. What is the business-level word for “understood” on the phone — more formal than わかりました？
Answer: かしこまりました (kashikomarimashita)

5. Your friend calls and the call might drop. How do you say “the signal is bad”?
Answer: 電波が悪いんです。 (Denpa ga warui n desu.)

6. In a business call, who hangs up first — the caller or the recipient?
Answer: The caller. The recipient always waits for the caller to end the call first.

Have you made a phone call in Japanese before? Which phrase did you find trickiest? Share your experience in the comments — we read every one!

Want to practice Japanese phone conversations with a real native speaker? Book a lesson on italki — tutors available for business Japanese, JLPT prep, and everyday conversation.

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— **Editor notes**: This article replaces an earlier draft that used a narrower At a Glance table (9 rows, no Reading column). The revised draft expands the opening table to 12 rows covering all major phone situations, adds the Reading column throughout, explicitly features ただ今席を外しております as requested in the brief, and includes わたくしども in the business vs. casual comparison table. The three Keep Learning links (japanese-small-talk, keigo-sonkeigo-kenjougo, expressing-opinions-japanese) are all confirmed published articles in the site memory. Internal links use wp:embed format per SWELL rules.

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About the Author

Daisuke is the creator of JP YoKoSo — a Japanese learning site for English speakers. Every article is written to explain Japanese clearly, with real examples, grammar notes, and practical tips for learners at every level.

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