When a foreigner works in a Japanese company, to answer incoming phone calls may be a basic office work. As telephone communication is made only by exchange of our voices, it is very important for you to learn “the set expressions of Japanese” to avoid discomfort or misunderstanding of the other party.

In the expressions there are many honorific words or polite expressions actually (there is an exception such that you don't give an honorific title to the person of your own company, even to your boss or big boss), but it is a good idea for you to memorize them simply.

Below are some of the most commonly used Japanese business phrases over the phone you will encounter while working in Japan.

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When you answer the phone

Hai, ◯◯ de gozaimasu

はい、◯◯株式会社でございます。

Closest English equivalent: Thanks for calling, this is ◯◯ corporation.

Osewa ni natte orimasu

お世話になっております。

Closest English equivalent: I appreciate your cooperation(attention).

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When you ask the other party to repeat

Osoreirimasu, mou ichido onegai itashimasu

おそれいります。もう一度お願いいたします。

Closest English equivalent: I’m sorry, will you say it once again?

Onamae wo mouichido oukagai shitemo yoroshii deshouka?

お名前をもう一度お伺いしてもよろしいでしょうか？

Closest English equivalent: May I ask your name once again?

When you transfer a call

○○de gozaimasune? Sho-sho omachi kudasaimase

○○でございますね、少々お待ちくださいませ。

Closest English equivalent: You are calling to ○○ , aren’t you? Will you hold on the line?

（Note：You don't give an honorific title to the person of your own company, even to your boss or big boss）

Tadaima otsunagi itashimasu. Sho-sho omachi kudasaimase

ただいまおつなぎ致します。少々お待ちくださいませ。

Closest English equivalent: I will connect your line. Will you hold?

Moushiwake gozaimasen. Tadaima ○○wa hokano denwani deteorimasu

申し訳ございません。ただいま◯◯は他の電話に出ております。

Closest English equivalent: I’m afraid ○○ is on another line at this moment.

Owarishidai kochirakara orikaeshi odenwa sashiagete yoroshii deshouka?

終わり次第、こちらから折り返しお電話差し上げてもよろしいでしょうか？

Closest English equivalent: May I have ○○ call you back soon after his/her call ends?

Moushiwake gozaimasen. Tadaima ○○wa sekio hazushite orimasu

申し訳ございません。ただいま◯◯は席を外しております

Closest English equivalent: I’m afraid ○○ is away from his/her desk right now.

Modorishidai kochirakara orikaeshi odenwa sashiagete yoroshii deshouka?

戻り次第、こちらから折り返しお電話差し上げてもよろしいでしょうか？

Closest English equivalent: May I have ○○ call you back soon after ○○ is back?

Moushiwake gozaimasen. Honjitsu ○○ wa shujitsu fuzaide gozaimasu

申し訳ございません。本日◯◯は終日不在でございます。

Closest English equivalent: I’m afraid ○○ is taking a day off today.

Kochirakara ○○ ni renrakuwo tori, suguni odenwa sashiageru youni itashimasu

こちらから◯◯に連絡を取り、すぐにお電話差し上げるようにいたします。

Closest English equivalent: May I contact ○○ and have ○○ call you back?

When you take a message

Yoroshikereba goyoukenwo ukagatte, ○○ni otsutae itashimasu

よろしければご用件をうかがって、◯◯にお伝え致します。

Closest English equivalent: Can I leave your message to ○○？

Osoreirimasuga kaishamei, onamae, odenwabangou wo ukagatte yoroshii deshouka?

恐れ入りますが、会社名、お名前とお電話番号を伺ってよろしいでしょうか。

Closest English equivalent: May I ask your company name, your name, and phone number?

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When you finish a call

Soredewa shitsurei itashimasu

それでは、失礼いたします。

Closest English equivalent: OK Thank you very much for your calling.

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When you respond to a wrong number call

Kochirawa ○○ desu. Osoreirimasuga dochira-ni okake deshouka?

こちらは◯◯株式会社です。恐れ入りますが、どちらにおかけでしょうか？

Closest English equivalent:This is ○○ corporation. May I ask which company you are calling to?

Osoreirimasuga nanban-ni okake deshouka?

恐れ入りますが、何番におかけでしょうか？

Closest English equivalent: Excuse me, which number are you calling?

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