Japanese Lesson 49 – Simple Phone Calls · N5

📋 Expression Reference — Simple Phone Calls

Key phrases across formality levels. Press ▶ to hear any expression.

FORMAL — けいご (KEIGO)

Expression	Romaji	Typical Response	Context
もしもし、やまもとともうしますが。	Moshi moshi, Yamamoto to moushimasu ga.	おでんわありがとうございます。 O-denwa arigatou gozaimasu.	Formal self-introduction on the phone
たなかさんはいらっしゃいますか？	Tanaka-san wa irasshaimasu ka?	しょうしょうおまちください。 Shoushou o-machi kudasai.	Asking for a specific person (honorific)
でんごんをおねがいできますか？	Dengon wo onegai dekimasu ka?	はい、かしこまりました。 Hai, kashikomarimashita.	Requesting to leave a message

STANDARD — ていねい (TEINEI)

Expression	Romaji	Typical Response	Context
もしもし、すずきですが。	Moshi moshi, Suzuki desu ga.	あ、すずきさん、こんにちは。 A, Suzuki-san, konnichiwa.	Standard self-introduction on the phone
ゆきさんはいますか？	Yuki-san wa imasu ka?	すみません、いまるすです。 Sumimasen, ima rusu desu.	Asking if someone is home
またかけなおします。	Mata kakenaoshimasu.	はい、わかりました。 Hai, wakarimashita.	Saying you will call back

CASUAL — くだけた (KUDAKETA)

Expression	Romaji	Typical Response	Context
もしもし、いまだいじょうぶ？	Moshi moshi, ima daijoubu?	うん、だいじょうぶだよ。 Un, daijoubu da yo.	Checking if friend can talk
あしたひま？	Ashita hima?	うん、なにする？ Un, nani suru?	Asking if a friend is free
じゃあ、またね。	Jaa, mata ne.	うん、またね。 Un, mata ne.	Casual sign-off between friends

🗣 Mini Dialogues

Three scenes at different formality levels. Press ▶ to hear each line.

A — FORMAL · Calling a Company to Speak with Mr. Tanaka

やまもと

もしもし、やまもとともうしますが、たなかさんはいらっしゃいますか？

Moshi moshi, Yamamoto to moushimasu ga, Tanaka-san wa irasshaimasu ka?

Hello, this is Yamamoto — is Mr. Tanaka available?

もしもし、 [NAME] ともうしますが、 [PERSON] はいらっしゃいますか？

moshi moshi, [name] to moushimasu ga, [person] wa irasshaimasu ka?

hello [name] called but [person] (topic) is-present?

→ "Hello, this is [name] — is [person] available?" — formal phone opener

うけつけ

たなかはただいまがいしゅつしております。でんごんをおつたえしましょうか？

Tanaka wa tadaima gaishutsu shite orimasu. Dengon wo o-tsutae shimashou ka?

Tanaka is currently out of the office. Shall I pass on a message?

やまもと

では、またかけなおします。しつれいします。

Dewa, mata kakenaoshimasu. Shitsurei shimasu.

Then I will call back. Goodbye.

B — STANDARD · Calling a Friend's House, Parent Answers

すずき

もしもし、すずきですが、ゆきさんはいますか？

Moshi moshi, Suzuki desu ga, Yuki-san wa imasu ka?

Hello, this is Suzuki — is Yuki there?

もしもし、 [NAME] ですが、 [PERSON] はいますか？

moshi moshi, [name] desu ga, [person] wa imasu ka?

hello [name] is but [person] (topic) is-there?

→ "Hello, this is [name] — is [person] there?" — standard phone opener

おかあさん

すみません、ゆきはいまるすです。でんごんをつたえましょうか？

Sumimasen, Yuki wa ima rusu desu. Dengon wo tsutaemashou ka?

Sorry, Yuki is out right now. Shall I pass on a message?

すずき

あしたでんわしてくださいとつたえてください。

Ashita denwa shite kudasai to tsutaete kudasai.

Please tell her to call me tomorrow.

[MESSAGE] とつたえてください。

[message] to tsutaete kudasai.

[message] (quote) please-convey

→ "Please tell them [message]." — leaving a message via someone

C — CASUAL · Quick Call Between Friends Making Plans

けんた

もしもし、いまだいじょうぶ？

Moshi moshi, ima daijoubu?

Hey, can you talk now?

あおい

うん、だいじょうぶだよ。あしたひま？

Un, daijoubu da yo. Ashita hima?

Yeah, I'm fine. Are you free tomorrow?

[TIME] ひま？

[time] hima?

[time] free?

→ "Are you free [time]?" — casual way to check availability

けんた

うん、ひまだよ。じゃあ、またね。

Un, hima da yo. Jaa, mata ne.

Yeah, I'm free. OK, talk to you later!

📋 Key Patterns & Cheatsheet ▼

Answering the phone — もしもし + self-identification

FORMAL

もしもし、 [NAME] ともうしますが。

Moshi moshi, [name] to moushimasu ga.

→ "Hello, my name is [name]." (humble/keigo)

STANDARD

もしもし、 [NAME] ですが。

Moshi moshi, [name] desu ga.

→ "Hello, this is [name]." (polite)

CASUAL

もしもし、いまだいじょうぶ？

Moshi moshi, ima daijoubu?

→ "Hey, can you talk now?" — skip the name, jump to the point.

Asking for someone — いらっしゃいますか vs いますか

🔵 FORMAL

たなかさんはいらっしゃいますか？

Tanaka-san wa irasshaimasu ka?

Is Mr. Tanaka available?

いらっしゃる is the honorific form of いる. Used when calling companies or speaking to superiors.

🟢 STANDARD

ゆきさんはいますか？

Yuki-san wa imasu ka?

Is Yuki there?

いますか is the normal polite form. Fine for calling a friend's house.

Leaving a message — でんごんをおねがいします

FORMAL

でんごんをおねがいできますか？

Dengon wo onegai dekimasu ka?

→ "Could I leave a message?" (humble request)

STANDARD

[MESSAGE] とつたえてください。

[message] to tsutaete kudasai.

→ "Please tell them [message]."

Ending a phone call

🔵 FORMAL

しつれいします。

Shitsurei shimasu.

Goodbye. (lit. "I will be rude")

Standard formal sign-off for business calls.

🟡 CASUAL

じゃあ、またね。

Jaa, mata ne.

OK, talk to you later!

Casual goodbye between friends.

A — Flashcards

Click a card to flip it. Use ▶ to hear the Japanese.

tap to flip

1 / 10

B — Listen & Choose the Meaning

Press ▶ to hear each phrase, then choose the correct English meaning.

C — Choose the Right Response

Listen to the question, then choose the most natural reply.

D — Listen & Write in Romaji

Press ▶ to hear each phrase, then type what you heard in romaji. Japanese letters are not needed.

💡 Tip: Long vowels → double the vowel (おう = ou / oo). Double consonants → write them twice (きって = kitte).

E — Shadowing Practice

Press ▶ to hear each line, say it aloud, then mark it as practised.

0 of 9 lines practised

📖 Grammar Notes ▼

もしもし — Phone greeting

もしもし (moshi moshi) is the universal Japanese phone greeting, used when answering or making a call. It is appropriate at all formality levels.

  • Used by both caller and receiver
  • Often followed by self-identification: もしもし、～ですが
  • In very casual calls between close friends, もしもし can be skipped

もしもし、 [NAME] ですが。

moshi moshi, [name] desu ga.

→ "Hello, this is [name]."

もしもし、すずきですが。

Moshi moshi, Suzuki desu ga.

Hello, this is Suzuki.

～ですが — Soft connector ("but" / "and so...")

が (ga) after です softens the sentence, implying "I am [name], and the reason I'm calling is...". It is not a strong "but" — it gently introduces the next part of the conversation.

  • やまもとともうしますが = "This is Yamamoto, and..." (formal)
  • すずきですが = "This is Suzuki, and..." (standard)
  • Often the listener responds before the caller continues

[NAME] ですが、 [REQUEST]

[name] desu ga, [request]

→ "This is [name] — [request]."

すずきですが、ゆきさんはいますか？

Suzuki desu ga, Yuki-san wa imasu ka?

This is Suzuki — is Yuki there?

いらっしゃいますか — Honorific "Is [person] there?"

いらっしゃる (irassharu) is the honorific (keigo) form of いる (to be / to exist for people). Use it when asking about someone of higher status or when calling a company.

  • いらっしゃいますか？ = formal "Is [person] there?"
  • いますか？ = standard polite version
  • いる？ = casual (friends only)

[PERSON] さんはいらっしゃいますか？

[person] -san wa irasshaimasu ka?

→ "Is [person] available?" (honorific)

たなかさんはいらっしゃいますか？

Tanaka-san wa irasshaimasu ka?

Is Mr. Tanaka available?

でんごんをおねがいします — Requesting to leave a message

でんごん (dengon) means "message". Combined with おねがいします or おねがいできますか, it forms a polite request to leave a message.

• でんごんをおねがいできますか？ = "Could I leave a message?" (more polite)
• でんごんをおねがいします = "I'd like to leave a message" (standard polite)

でんごんをおねがいできますか？

Dengon wo onegai dekimasu ka?

→ "Could I leave a message?"

でんごんをおつたえしましょうか？

Dengon wo o-tsutae shimashou ka?

Shall I pass on a message?

またかけなおします — "I will call back"

かけなおす (kakenaou) means "to call back / to redial". It combines かける (to make a call) with なおす (to redo).

  • またかけなおします = "I will call back again" (polite)
  • またかける = "I'll call again" (casual)
  • Very useful when the person you want to reach is unavailable

またかけなおします。

mata kakenaoshimasu.

→ "I will call back again."

では、またかけなおします。

Dewa, mata kakenaoshimasu.

Then I will call back.

～とつたえてください — "Please tell them ~"

とつたえてください (to tsutaete kudasai) is used to ask someone to relay a message. The message goes before と.

  • [message] + とつたえてください = "Please tell them [message]"
  • と is the quotation particle, marking what should be conveyed
  • The message can be a request, information, or anything you want relayed

[MESSAGE] とつたえてください。

[message] to tsutaete kudasai.

→ "Please tell them [message]."

あしたでんわしてくださいとつたえてください。

Ashita denwa shite kudasai to tsutaete kudasai.

Please tell her to call me tomorrow.

しつれいします — Formal phone sign-off

しつれいします (shitsurei shimasu) literally means "I will be rude" but functions as a polite goodbye, especially on the phone or when leaving a room.

  • Used at the end of formal/business calls
  • The caller usually says it after the conversation ends
  • Casual equivalent: じゃあ、またね (jaa, mata ne)

しつれいします。

Shitsurei shimasu.

→ "Goodbye." (polite, formal phone sign-off)

では、またかけなおします。しつれいします。

Dewa, mata kakenaoshimasu. Shitsurei shimasu.

Then I will call back. Goodbye.

📚 Key Vocabulary ▼

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
でんわ	denwa	telephone / phone call
もしもし	moshi moshi	hello (phone greeting)
でんごん	dengon	message
るす	rusu	not home / away
かける	kakeru	to make a phone call
かけなおす	kakenaosu	to call back
つたえる	tsutaeru	to convey / to pass on
いらっしゃる	irassharu	to be (honorific)
もうします	moushimasu	to be called (humble)
がいしゅつ	gaishutsu	going out / away from office
しつれいします	shitsurei shimasu	goodbye (formal)
だいじょうぶ	daijoubu	OK / fine / all right
ひま	hima	free (time) / not busy
でんわばんごう	denwa bangou	phone number
おねがいします	onegai shimasu	please (request)

📋 Expression Reference — Simple Phone Calls

🗣 Mini Dialogues

A — Flashcards

B — Listen & Choose the Meaning

C — Choose the Right Response

D — Listen & Write in Romaji

E — Shadowing Practice

もしもし — Phone greeting

～ですが — Soft connector ("but" / "and so...")

いらっしゃいますか — Honorific "Is [person] there?"

でんごんを おねがいします — Requesting to leave a message

また かけなおします — "I will call back"

～と つたえてください — "Please tell them ~"

しつれいします — Formal phone sign-off

でんごんをおねがいします — Requesting to leave a message

またかけなおします — "I will call back"

～とつたえてください — "Please tell them ~"