Japanese - Phone Messages

___の件でお電話しました。

___ no ken de odenwa shimashita.

I'm calling about ___.

Meaning: I'm calling about ___.

When to use: Put a topic or noun before の件で. Common in polite phone calls when you state the reason for your call.

___はいつ戻りますか。

___ wa itsu modorimasu ka.

When will ___ be back?

Meaning: When will ___ be back?

When to use: Put the person's name before は. Use this to ask when someone will return. In very formal business calls you might hear 「___はいつお戻りになりますか。」

Tip: Beginners sometimes use 来ます (kimasu) instead of 戻ります (modorimasu). 戻ります implies returning to the place where they were.

少々お待ちください。

Shōshō omachi kudasai.

Please hold for a moment.

Meaning: Please hold for a moment.

When to use: Standard polite phone phrase to ask the other person to wait briefly.

Tip: Some learners say 待ってください (matte kudasai) which is okay but slightly less formal than 少々お待ちください。

聞こえますか

Kikoemasu ka.

Can you hear me?

Meaning: Can you hear me?

When to use: Natural on the phone to check the connection. For extra clarity you can say 私の声が聞こえますか。

電波が悪いです。

Denpa ga warui desu.

The line is bad.

Meaning: The line is bad.

When to use: Say this when a mobile signal or connection is poor. For landlines you can also say 回線の調子が悪いです。

電話に出られませんでした。

Denwa ni deraremasen deshita.

I missed your call.

Meaning: I missed your call.

When to use: Use this when you could not answer an incoming call; often followed by an apology such as すみません。

メッセージを受け取りました。

Messēji o uketorimashita.

I got your message.

Meaning: I got your message.

When to use: Use を with メッセージ to confirm receipt. For voicemail specifically you can say 留守電を聞きました。

___に伝えておきます。

___ ni tsutaete okimasu.

I'll give ___ the message.

Meaning: I'll give ___ the message.

When to use: Put the person before に. Use this to promise to pass on the caller's message; ておきます shows you will take care of it.

Tip: For beginners, forgetting に after the person (e.g., saying 田中さん伝えておきます) — include に: 田中さんに伝えておきます。

ピーという音のあとに、メッセージを残してください。

Pī to iu oto no ato ni, messēji o nokoshite kudasai.

Please leave a message after the beep.

Meaning: Please leave a message after the beep.

When to use: Standard voicemail prompt. Use when asking the caller to leave a message after the signal.