Translation guide
The English phrase "call out" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: shouting to get attention, publicly criticizing someone, challenging someone, and summoning someone or something. Each meaning has different natural Japanese expressions.
To say something loudly, often to attract someone's attention or to be heard over a distance.
General verb for shouting or yelling. Can be used when calling out loudly, but often implies a strong emotion or urgency.
He called out for help.
Literally 'call in a loud voice'. This is a natural way to say 'call out to someone' when trying to get their attention.
I spotted a friend on the street and called out to them.
Means 'to speak to' or 'to call out to' someone, often in a friendly or casual manner. It doesn't necessarily imply shouting, but is used when initiating contact.
I called out to the person next to me.
To call out to someone, often to a group or the public. It can also mean to appeal or address.
He called out to the crowd.
To publicly denounce, criticize, or draw attention to someone's bad behavior or a problem.
To criticize or condemn. This is a direct translation for 'call out' in the sense of publicly pointing out faults.
He called out the injustice.
To denounce or censure strongly. More forceful than 非難する, often used in formal or serious contexts.
An article calling out the politician's corruption.
To criticize by name. This captures the nuance of singling someone out for criticism.
To point out a problem. A milder way to 'call out' an issue without necessarily attacking a person.
To demand an explanation or justification from someone, often in a confrontational way.
To demand an explanation. This is a natural way to 'call someone out' when you want them to account for their actions.
I called him out on his contradictory statements.
To press someone for an answer, to interrogate. Implies a persistent and confrontational calling out.
To investigate or pursue a question closely. Often used when calling out someone's responsibility or wrongdoing.
The reporter called out the minister's responsibility.
To ask someone to come, especially for a specific task or duty. Often used for emergency services or technical support.
To summon, to call out. Used for calling someone to come, such as a doctor, repair person, or someone from a waiting area.
We called out a technician because of the breakdown.
To request dispatch. Formal, used for emergency services like police or fire department.
To convene or muster. Used for calling out troops, a jury, or a meeting.
The troops were called out.
The English 'call out' cannot be directly translated as a single Japanese verb in most cases. Always consider the intended meaning first. For example, 'call out' as in shouting is not simply 呼ぶ (yobu), which means 'to call' but not necessarily loudly.
叫ぶ (sakebu) often implies a cry or yell with emotion (fear, anger, excitement). 大声で呼ぶ (ōgoe de yobu) is more neutral and simply means to call in a loud voice to get attention. Use 叫ぶ for urgent or emotional shouting, and 大声で呼ぶ for everyday calling out.
He called out his boss by name.
She called out the budget issue in the meeting.
He was called out on his lie.
They called out the fire department because of the fire.