会話: Answering a Business Telephone Call

Sometimes, I'm the one who answer a telephone call in our office here in Japan. For someone who just starting to learn Nihongo , like me, what should be a rather simple task becomes a difficult one. Though it's a difficult task, it does have its benefits too. I got to practice my Nihongo listening and speaking skills. Fortunately, I already have a "ready-made" script of answering a phone call in Nihongo, which was given to me by my Japanese colleague.


If there's a call, the first thing I say is,
(1.a)

• ”会社名”でございます。

• "Company Name" de gozaimasu.

(1.b)

• おはようございます。”会社名”でございます。

• Ohayou gozaimasu. "Company Name" de gozaimasu. (add the morning greeting when you answer the call before 10 AM)

Then I may follow it with a greeting/salutation
(2.a)

• お世話になっております。

• Osewa ni natte orimasu.

(2.b)

• お疲れ様です。

• Otsukare sama desu. (salutation for colleagues only)

To transfer the call immediately,
(3)

• はい、少々お待ちください。

• Hai, shou shou omachi kudasai

In case you want to ask the caller's name again ,
(4)

• 申し訳ございません、もう一度お名前を伺いしてもよろしいでしょうか。

• Mouskiwakegozaimasen, mou ichido onamae wo ukagaishitemo yoroshii deshou ka.

In case the person, who the caller is looking for, is not on his/her desk
(5)

• 申し訳ございません。ただいま席をはずしておりますが。

• Moushiwake gozaimasen. Tadaima seki wo hazu shite orimasu ga.

In case the person, who the caller is looking for, is on leave.
(6)

• 申し訳ございません。 本日はお休みをいただいておりますが。

• Moushiwake gozaimasen. Honjitsu oyasumi wo itadaite orimasu ga.

In case the person, who the caller is looking for, is talking on other phone.
(7)

• 申し訳ございません。ただいまほかの電話に出ておりますが。

• Moushiwake gozaimasen. Tadaima hoka no denwa ni dete orimasu ga.

In case the peson, who the caller is looking for, is on a business trip or go out.
(8)

• 申し訳ございません。。ただいま（本日）が外出しております。

• Moushiwake gozaimasen. Tadaima (Honjitsu) gaishutsu shite orimasu.

In case the person, who the caller is looking for, is on a meeting.
(9)

• 申し訳ございません。打ち合わせ中です。

• Moushiwake gozaimasen. Uchiawase chuu desu.

Tags: telephone call in japanese, phone conversation in nihongo