Talking on the phone in Japanese for the first time can be a pretty scary experience. At the beginning of the conversation, the person on the other line won’t know he or she is talking to a beginning Japanese speaker and so it’s easy to get nervous and worry about people talking to fast or making some other faux pas.

While there is no way to guarantee a successful conversation, it can help to know what to expect and what to do when talking on the phone in Japanese.

How to Answer the Phone in Japanese

Answering the phone in Japanese is very easy. Simply say “Moshi-moshi”. This expression is used by all people, male and female, young and old when answering the phone. People at companies will generally use keigo or polite speech when answering the phone stating first the company name and then their own. Some people, mostly men, may answer the phone by just saying “Hai”. Still others might answer in a special way depending on whose calling, and thanks to all the caller ID capabilities of today’s cell phones.

For general purposes, however, you can’t miss with “Moshi-moshi.”

Conversing in Japanese on the Phone:

A big part of talking on the phone in Japanese is responding in a way that shows the other person that you are listening and engaged with what they are talking about. It’s commonly called “aizuchi wo utsu” which basically means that one should consistently say something to show the other person you are listening. It can be a grunt, or “Hai” meaning “Yes”, or even interjections such as “Honto desuka?” which means “Really?”

The flipside of what’s stated above is that you should be ready for a barrage of interjections from the person on the other line when you are speaking on the phone. Most of the time they are just showing interest and keeping the conversation flowing. When they have something to say, or want to jump in, they will generally use a full sentence or say your name to get your attention.

Ending a Phone Conversation in Japanese

One of the most important terms to understand when learning Japanese is also one of the shortest. The term “ja”, which is a shortened form of “de ha” or “de wa”, is a great way to end a conversation or change the subject. You can also raise the ending and make it a question which asks the other person to sum up and finish, very politely of course.

It can also be used as a common way to say goodbye Japanese, as the internationally known Japanese word for goodbye, “sayonara” is not usually used to end phone conversations, but more common when speaking in person.

Goodbye on the phone can be “Ja” or “Ja ne” with the softening particle “ne” added on. In more formal conversations you might want to bring “Ja” out to its full length as “Soredeha” or “Sorede wa…” Among younger people and good friends, “Bye-bye”, pronounced the same as the English is also a common way to say goodbye.

As in English, another very common goodbye is to reaffirm the appointment made as in “Hai, raishu no nichiyobi ni aimasho.” Or “Yes, let’s meet next week.”

Conclusion

Phone conversations in a foreign language can be quite challenging because of the inability to supplement with gestures, but it can also be fun and a great way to test your true ability. The important thing, as always, is to get your point across and be sure to improve each time you try.

No related posts.