Phone-related phrases

(especially ones that might come up in business or casual contexts)

• 音声が途切れちゃった Onsei ga togirechatta

  • English: The audio was cutting out / The voice cut out

  • Indonesian: Suaranya putus-putus

  • Note: “cutting out” is more natural than just “interrupted” for this context.

• 電話が出られない Denwa ga derarenai

  • English: I couldn’t answer the phone / They couldn’t pick up

  • Nuance: 出る = to answer (a call), so this phrase is about not being able to take the call (e.g., while in a meeting).

• 話し中 Hanashi-chuu (Busy tone)

  • Japanese: 話し中（はなしちゅう）

  • English: It’s busy / I got a busy signal

  • Example: 「何回かけても話し中だった。」(It was busy every time I called.)

• 繋がらない Tsunagaranai

  • English: I can’t get through / The call won’t go through

  • Note: Used both when there’s a technical issue or the line is just not connecting.

📞 Additional Useful Vocabulary & Phrases:

🔁 Call Status / Connection

• 電波が悪い Denpa ga warui
  The signal is bad
  (Sinyalnya jelek)

• 圏外（けんがい）Kengai
  Out of range / No signal

• 留守番電話（るすばんでんわ） Rusuban denwa
  Voicemail
  → 「留守電にメッセージを残しました」(I left a message on voicemail)

• 通話中（つうわちゅう） Tsuuwachuu
  On a call
  → 「今、通話中みたいです」(Looks like they’re on the phone now)

📲 Action Phrases

• 電話をかける Denwa wo kakeru
  To make a call
  → 丁寧: 「お電話差し上げます」(I will call you)

• 電話に出る Denwa ni deru
  To answer the phone

• 電話を切る Denwa wo kiru
  To hang up

• かけ直す Kakenaosu
  To call back
  → 「後でかけ直します」(I’ll call back later)

• 折り返し電話する Orikaeshi denwa-suru
  To return a call
  → More formal than かけ直す

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🗣️ Business-Style Phrases

• 少々お待ちください Shoushou omachi kudasai
  Please hold on a moment
  (Tunggu sebentar ya)

• ただいまお繋ぎします Tadaima otsunagi shimasu
  I’ll connect you now (transferring the call)

• 申し訳ありませんが、〇〇は只今席を外しております Moushiwake arimasen ga, 〇〇 wa tadaima seki wo hazushite orimasu
  I’m sorry, but 〇〇 is away from their desk right now

• お名前を伺ってもよろしいでしょうか？ Onamae wo ukagattemo yoroshii deshouka?
  May I have your name, please?

• 後ほどおかけ直しいただけますか？ Nochihodo okake naoshi itadakemasu ka?
  Could you please call back later?

Phone-friendly Cheat Sheet

📞 Japanese Phone Call Vocabulary & Phrases