A short, friendly lesson to help you handle phone messages politely. We'll practice asking who is calling, leaving contact details, and offering to take messages.
Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice common polite phone phrases for asking who is calling, requesting someone, leaving messages, and saying you'll call back. This CEFR-aligned mini-pack focuses on realistic phone lines like “___さんをお願いします。” and “伝言をお預かりしましょうか。” — perfect for short calls and workplace voicemail handling.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use polite phone phrases to ask who is calling and request a person.
Leave or take a short message and give a phone number politely.
Handle simple problems on the phone (wrong number, ask to call back).
Level A2: build confidence in polite telephone exchanges.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
___さんをお願いします。
___-san o onegai shimasu.
Can I speak to ___?
Meaning: Can I speak to ___?
When to use: Use this polite request at the start of a call when you want to speak with a specific person. Put the person's name in the blank and add さん for politeness.
Tip: Don't drop さん with a colleague's name in polite calls — e.g., saying just 山田をお願いします sounds impolite.
もしもし、田中さんをお願いします。
Moshi moshi, Tanaka-san o onegai shimasu.
Hello — can I speak to Mr./Ms. Tanaka, please?
会社電話: すみません、山田さんをお願いします。
Kaisha denwa: Sumimasen, Yamada-san o onegai shimasu.
At a company: Excuse me, could I speak to Yamada, please?
___です
___ desu.
This is ___.
Meaning: This is ___.
When to use: Use this when identifying yourself on the phone. Put your name in the blank. It's short and polite.
Tip: Beginners sometimes say 私はアンナです in very short calls; 私は is fine but short 'アンナです' sounds more natural on the phone.
Nice to meet you — this is David. Pleased to meet you.
失礼ですが、どちら様ですか。
Shitsurei desu ga, dochira-sama desu ka.
Who's calling, please?
Meaning: Who's calling, please?
When to use: A polite way to ask who is on the line when you need the caller's name. Use at the start of a call when you haven't heard an introduction.
受付: 失礼ですが、どちら様ですか。
Uketsuke: Shitsurei desu ga, dochira-sama desu ka.
Reception: Excuse me, who is calling, please?
家族の電話: 失礼ですが、どちら様ですか。と聞かれた。
Kazoku no denwa: Shitsurei desu ga, dochira-sama desu ka. to kikareta.
On a family call I was asked: 'Who is calling, please?'
___さんはいらっしゃいますか。
___-san wa irasshaimasu ka.
Is ___ there?
Meaning: Is ___ there?
When to use: Ask this politely when you want to know if someone is available to take the call. Put the person's name in the blank.
もしもし、佐藤さんはいらっしゃいますか。
Moshi moshi, Satō-san wa irasshaimasu ka.
Hello, is Mr./Ms. Satō there?
会社: 課長はいらっしゃいますか。少し急ぎです。
Kaisha: Kachō wa irasshaimasu ka. Sukoshi isogi desu.
At work: Is the section chief there? It's a bit urgent.
___は今、電話に出られません。
___ wa ima, denwa ni deraremasen.
___ is not available right now.
Meaning: ___ is not available right now.
When to use: Use this to tell a caller that the person they want cannot answer at the moment. Use は after the name; you can add 'さん' if appropriate.
Tip: Don't forget は after the name; saying 田中さん今、電話に出られません sounds unnatural.
すみません、田中さんは今、電話に出られません。
Sumimasen, Tanaka-san wa ima, denwa ni deraremasen.
Sorry, Tanaka can't answer the phone right now.
申し訳ございません、部長は今、電話に出られません。
Mōshiwake gozaimasen, buchō wa ima, denwa ni deraremasen.
I'm sorry, the manager can't take the call now.
伝言をお預かりしましょうか。
Dengon o oazukari shimashō ka.
Can I take a message?
Meaning: Can I take a message?
When to use: Offer this when the person asked for is absent, and you can record a message for them.
受付: 伝言をお預かりしましょうか。
Uketsuke: Dengon o oazukari shimashō ka.
Reception: Shall I take a message?
同僚に: 伝言をお預かりしましょうか。後で渡します。
Dōryō ni: Dengon o oazukari shimashō ka. Ato de watashimasu.
To a colleague: Shall I take a message? I'll give it to them later.
___さんに、折り返し電話してくださいと伝えてもらえますか。
___-san ni, orikaeshi denwa shite kudasai to tsutaete moraemasu ka.
Could you ask ___ to call me back?
Meaning: Could you ask ___ to call me back?
When to use: Use this when you want the caller to pass a request to the person you tried to reach. Put the person's name in the blank.
私: 佐藤さんに、折り返し電話してくださいと伝えてもらえますか。
Watashi: Satō-san ni, orikaeshi denwa shite kudasai to tsutaete moraemasu ka.
