Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of a 'telephone call' is most commonly expressed with the noun 電話 (でんわ), which covers both the device and the act of calling. The verb 'to call' is 電話をかける or simply 電話する. This guide covers how to talk about making, receiving, and having phone calls naturally.
Referring to a telephone call as an event or communication.
The most common and general word for a telephone call. Can mean both the phone device and the call itself.
I got a phone call from my mother yesterday.
The connection is bad. (lit. The phone call is distant.)
Refers specifically to the act of talking on the phone, often used in technical or billing contexts (e.g., call duration).
Loanword from English, used in specific contexts like 'video call' (ビデオコール) or 'wake-up call' (モーニングコール). Not used alone for a general phone call.
Expressing the action of calling someone on the phone.
The standard way to say 'to make a phone call'. Literally 'to hang a phone', but it's the natural expression.
I'll call you later.
I called him, but he didn't answer.
A more casual, shorter verb form meaning 'to call'. Very common in spoken Japanese.
I'll call you tomorrow.
Humble form (謙譲語) used when you call a superior or customer. Shows respect to the person you are calling.
I will call you later. (very polite)
Slang abbreviation from 'telephone', used in very casual texting or speech among young people.
I'll give you a call later. (very casual)
Expressing the action of getting or answering a call.
Means 'to answer the phone'. Literally 'to go out to the phone'.
Can you answer the phone?
Means 'to receive a phone call', more formal than 電話に出る. Often used in business contexts.
I have received your call. (polite)
Describes a call coming in. Often used to say 'I got a call' or 'a call came in'.
I got a phone call during the meeting.
Talking about calls that were not answered or were ended.
Refers to an incoming call, often used for 'missed call' as 着信あり (you have a missed call).
I had a missed call.
Means 'to hang up the phone'. Literally 'to cut the phone'.
Please don't hang up first.
Intransitive form: 'the call gets disconnected' or 'the call drops'.
The call dropped when I entered the tunnel.
The English loanword コール is not used for a regular phone call. It appears in compounds like ビデオコール (video call) or コールセンター (call center), but saying コールする for 'to call' sounds unnatural. Use 電話する or 電話をかける instead.
In business settings, use humble language when referring to your own actions (e.g., お電話する) and respectful language for the other party (e.g., お電話ください). The phrase もしもし is only for casual calls; never use it in business.
I need to make a phone call.
There's a phone call for you.
The call charges are high.
Let's have a video call.