Translation guide
How to express 'hang up' (end a phone call) in Japanese. The most common verb is 切る, but there are also polite expressions and other nuances.
To terminate a phone conversation, usually by pressing a button or putting down the receiver.
The standard verb for hanging up the phone. Used in casual and informal contexts.
I hung up the phone.
先に切らないで。
Don't hang up first.
Explicitly says 'hang up the phone'. Slightly more formal than just 切る.
彼はすぐに電話を切った。
He hung up the phone immediately.
Intransitive form. Means 'the call gets disconnected' or 'the line goes dead'. Used when the call is cut off unintentionally or by the other party.
電話が切れた。
The call got disconnected.
To hang up in a polite or business context, often using humble or respectful language.
Literally 'I will be rude (and hang up)'. A standard polite phrase used before hanging up in business or formal calls.
では、失礼します。
Well then, I'll hang up now. (polite)
Very formal and humble. Used in business settings to announce that you are about to hang up.
それでは、お電話を切らせていただきます。
Well then, allow me to hang up. (very formal)
To end a call suddenly and rudely, often out of anger.
Slang. Literally 'slam-hang-up'. Describes hanging up abruptly, often with a loud noise, implying anger or rudeness.
彼は怒ってガチャ切りした。
He got angry and hung up on me.
Means 'to hang up unilaterally', without warning or agreement. Less slangy than ガチャ切り.
彼女は一方的に電話を切った。
She hung up on me without warning.
To place a telephone receiver back on its cradle. Less common now, but still understood.
Literally 'put down the receiver'. Used for old-style telephones.
彼は受話器を置いた。
He hung up the receiver.
The English loanword ハングアップ is not commonly used for ending a phone call. It might be understood in IT contexts (like hanging up a modem), but for phone calls, use 切る or the polite phrases above.