Simplified Chinese - Phone Messages

我能和___说话吗？

Wǒ néng hé ___ shuōhuà ma?

Can I speak to ___?

Meaning: Can I speak to ___?

When to use: Use this to ask if you can speak with someone who may be on the line or available to come to the phone.

Tip: Don't use this with '给' (给我) — learners sometimes say 我能给王经理说话吗？ which sounds odd. Use 和 or 通话 instead.

我是___

Wǒ shì ___.

This is ___.

Meaning: This is ___.

When to use: Identify yourself when someone asks who is calling or when you introduce yourself at the start of a call.

请问您是哪位

Qǐngwèn nín shì nǎ wèi?

Who's calling, please?

Meaning: Who's calling, please?

When to use: A polite way for the person answering the phone to ask the caller's identity.

___在吗

___ zài ma?

Is ___ there?

Meaning: Is ___ there?

When to use: Use when you want to check if a specific person is available to speak on the phone.

___现在不方便接电话。

___ xiànzài bù fāngbiàn jiē diànhuà.

___ is not available right now.

Meaning: ___ is not available right now.

When to use: A polite response from an assistant or answering machine to explain someone can't take the call at the moment.

Tip: Learners sometimes say 不方便听电话 — say 接电话 (answer phone) rather than 听电话 here.

需要我帮您留言吗？

Xūyào wǒ bāng nín liúyán ma?

Can I take a message?

Meaning: Can I take a message?

When to use: Offer this when the person someone is calling for is unavailable and you can note down information.

能请___给我回个电话吗？

Néng qǐng ___ gěi wǒ huí ge diànhuà ma?

Could you ask ___ to call me back?

Meaning: Could you ask ___ to call me back?

When to use: Use to request that a message-taker asks someone to return your call later.

我的号码是___。

Wǒ de hàomǎ shì ___.

My number is ___.

Meaning: My number is ___.

When to use: Give your phone number when leaving a message or asking for a callback.

Tip: Don't forget to say '我的号码是...' rather than just reading digits — learners sometimes pause and lose the listener. You can also say 我的手机号是... for mobile numbers.

不好意思，我打错了。

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ dǎcuò le.

Sorry, I have the wrong number.

Meaning: Sorry, I have the wrong number.

When to use: Say this briefly when you realise you've called the wrong person or dialed the wrong number.

我晚点再打过来。

Wǒ wǎndiǎn zài dǎ guòlái。

I'll call back later.

Meaning: I'll call back later.

When to use: Use this to politely end a call with the plan to try again later.

我想留个言

Wǒ xiǎng liú ge yán.

I'd like to leave a message.

Meaning: I'd like to leave a message.

When to use: Say this when you intend to give a message to someone who is not available.

留言是___

Liúyán shì ___.

The message is ___.

Meaning: The message is ___.

When to use: Use this to give the actual content of the message when leaving one.

请告诉___我打过电话。

Qǐng gàosu ___ wǒ dǎ guo diànhuà.

Please tell ___ I called.

Meaning: Please tell ___ I called.

When to use: Ask a message-taker to pass on the simple information that you called.