Traditional Chinese - Phone Messages

請問可以找___嗎？

Qǐngwèn kěyǐ zhǎo ___ ma?

Can I speak to ___?

Meaning: 請問可以找___嗎？ (Qǐngwèn kěyǐ zhǎo ___ ma?) means “Can I speak to ___?”

When to use: Use it when you call and want to be connected to a specific person.

Tip: Do not translate word by word as “Can I find ___?” On the phone, 找 (zhǎo) naturally means “speak to / get.”

我是___

Wǒ shì ___.

This is ___.

Meaning: 我是___。 (Wǒ shì ___.) means “This is ___.”

When to use: Use it to identify yourself on the phone.

請問您是哪位

Qǐngwèn nín shì nǎ wèi?

Who's calling, please?

Meaning: 請問您是哪位？ (Qǐngwèn nín shì nǎ wèi?) means “Who’s calling, please?”

When to use: Use it politely when you answer the phone and need to know the caller’s identity.

Tip: 哪位 (nǎ wèi) is the polite phone-style way to ask “who.” Avoid using 你是誰？ (Nǐ shì shéi?) here; it can sound too direct.

請問___在嗎？

Qǐngwèn ___ zài ma?

Is ___ there?

Meaning: 請問___在嗎？ (Qǐngwèn ___ zài ma?) means “Is ___ there?”

When to use: Use it to check if someone is available to take your call.

___現在不方便接電話。

___ xiànzài bù fāngbiàn jiē diànhuà.

___ is not available right now.

Meaning: ___現在不方便接電話。 (___ xiànzài bù fāngbiàn jiē diànhuà.) means “___ is not available right now.”

When to use: Use it when answering for someone who cannot take the call at the moment.

需要幫您留言嗎？

Xūyào bāng nín liúyán ma?

Can I take a message?

Meaning: 需要幫您留言嗎？ (Xūyào bāng nín liúyán ma?) means “Can I take a message?”

When to use: Use it when someone is not available and you want to offer to write down a message.

可以請___回電給我嗎？

Kěyǐ qǐng ___ huídiàn gěi wǒ ma?

Could you ask ___ to call me back?

Meaning: 可以請___回電給我嗎？ (Kěyǐ qǐng ___ huídiàn gěi wǒ ma?) means “Could you ask ___ to call me back?”

When to use: Use it when leaving a message and you want the person to return your call.

我的電話是___。

Wǒ de diànhuà shì ___.

My number is ___.

Meaning: 我的電話是___。 (Wǒ de diànhuà shì ___.) means “My number is ___.”

When to use: Use it when giving your phone number in a message.

不好意思，我打錯了。

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ dǎ cuò le.

Sorry, I have the wrong number.

Meaning: 不好意思，我打錯了。 (Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ dǎ cuò le.) means “Sorry, I have the wrong number.”

When to use: Use it when you realize you called the wrong person or wrong number.

Tip: 打錯了 (dǎ cuò le) is the natural phrase for dialing wrong. You do not need to say “wrong phone” directly.

我晚點再打給你。

Wǒ wǎn diǎn zài dǎ gěi nǐ.

I'll call back later.

Meaning: 我晚點再打給你。 (Wǒ wǎn diǎn zài dǎ gěi nǐ.) means “I’ll call you back later.”

When to use: Use it when you cannot talk now or will try again later.

我想留個言

Wǒ xiǎng liú ge yán.

I'd like to leave a message.

Meaning: 我想留個言。 (Wǒ xiǎng liú ge yán.) means “I’d like to leave a message.”

When to use: Use it when the person is not available and you want to leave a message.

留言內容是___。

Liúyán nèiróng shì ___.

The message is ___.

Meaning: 留言內容是___。 (Liúyán nèiróng shì ___.) means “The message is ___.”

When to use: Use it to clearly state the content of your phone message.

請跟___說我有打來。

Qǐng gēn ___ shuō wǒ yǒu dǎ lái.

Please tell ___ I called.

Meaning: 請跟___說我有打來。 (Qǐng gēn ___ shuō wǒ yǒu dǎ lái.) means “Please tell ___ I called.”

When to use: Use it when you only need the person to know that you called.