Yuka電話 vs 通話 — both relate to phone communication, but they aren't interchangeable. Understanding the difference will help you sound much more natural when talking about phones in Japanese!
ReiThis is especially relevant today since 通話 shows up a lot in smartphone apps and messaging services like LINE. Let's break it down!
At a Glance
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 電話 | でんわ | Phone; telephone; (to make) a phone call | The device OR the act of calling — broad, everyday term |
| 通話 | つうわ | Phone call; voice communication | The act/session of speaking over a connection — more technical |
電話 (でんわ) — Phone / Phone Call
電話 is the everyday, all-purpose word. It means:
- The telephone device: 電話が鳴る — the phone rings
- A phone call: 電話する — to make a call; 電話がある — there's a call
- The act of calling: 電話をかける — to place a call; 電話を受ける — to receive a call
Yuka後で電話するね。
I'll call you later.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 電話番号を教えてください。 | Please give me your phone number. |
| 電話が鳴っている。 | The phone is ringing. |
| 昨日電話したんだけど出なかった。 | I called yesterday but you didn't pick up. |
| 電話中です。 | I'm on the phone right now. |
通話 (つうわ) — Voice Call / Communication Session
通話 refers to the voice communication session itself — the actual period of speaking over a connection. It's more technical and formal than 電話, and appears often in smartphone/app contexts.
- 通話中 (つうわちゅう) — currently on a call / busy (phone status)
- 通話料 (つうわりょう) — call charges
- 無料通話 — free voice calls (e.g. LINE通話)
- 通話時間 — call duration
- ビデオ通話 — video call
ReiLINE and other apps use 通話 for their voice/video call features: 「LINE通話」「ビデオ通話」. The word emphasizes the communication channel rather than the device, which is why it fits digital contexts well.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 通話中は他の操作ができません。 | You can't perform other operations while on a call. |
| LINEで無料通話できる。 | You can make free voice calls on LINE. |
| 通話料が高い。 | The call charges are expensive. |
| ビデオ通話しよう！ | Let's do a video call! |
Key Differences
| 電話 | 通話 | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Phone / phone call (general) | Voice call / communication session |
| Register | Everyday, versatile | Technical, app/telecom contexts |
| Device meaning? | Yes: 電話機 (phone device) | No |
| Common compounds | 電話番号、電話する | 通話中、通話料、ビデオ通話 |
| Example | 電話してね | LINE通話で話そう |
Quick Quiz
Choose 電話 or 通話:
- 「___番号を教えてください」→ 電話
- 「LINEで無料___できるよ」→ 通話
- 「ただいま___中です」→ 通話 (call status) or 電話 (both natural)
- 「___をかけたけど出なかった」→ 電話
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