後で電話して
ato de denwa shite
In Japanese, 'call me later' is expressed as 後で電話して (ato de denwa shite).
This phrase is used specifically to request a telephone call at a future time. It is not used when you want someone to visit you or when you want someone to call out your name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 後で (ato de), meaning 'later' or 'afterwards' and 電話して (denwa shite), which is the te-form of the verb 'to telephone' or 'to call'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 後で電話して is an informal request used with friends, family or peers. To make the request more polite and suitable for acquaintances or superiors, you can use the polite form 後で電話してください. If you want to ask someone to contact you more broadly rather than specifically by telephone, you can use the formal phrase 後で連絡をください (Please contact me later). In very casual settings, you might say 後で電話してね to mean 'Call me later, okay?' or 後で連絡して to mean 'Get in touch with me later.'
How do you pronounce it?
ato de denwa shite
Did you know?
- The polite request 後で電話してください can be used as a social tool to end a conversation you are not enjoying. It acts as a 'soft brush-off' rather than a sincere request for a future call.
- In modern Japanese youth culture, the request to 'call' is often replaced by LINEして (LINE shite). This uses the name of the popular messaging app 'LINE' as a verb to mean 'send me a message' or 'contact me'.
- If you want to say 'call me after the meeting', you cannot simply use 後で (ato de). The sentence structure must change to reference the specific event, as 後で on its own only refers to a general future time.
Examples in context
- 後で電話してもらえますか？Could you call me later?This sentence is useful for asking 'Could you call me later?' using the form 後で電話して.Tatoeba #9139623 by bunbuku, translation #749266 by Serhiy
- 後で電話して！Call me later.This sentence is useful for a direct command 'Call me later.' using the form 後で電話して.Tatoeba #874000 by thyc244, translation #2245026 by CK
- 忙しいから、後で電話して。Isogashii kara, ato de denwa shite.I'm busy, so call me later.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are talking on the phone while Kenta is at work.
- 美咲 Misaki健太くん、今大丈夫？Kenta-kun, ima daijoubu?Kenta, is now a good time?
- 健太 Kentaごめん、今ちょっと会議なんだ。Gomen, ima chotto kaigi nanda.Sorry, I'm in a meeting right now.
- 美咲 Misakiわかった。じゃあ、後で電話して。Wakatta. Jaa, ato de denwa shite.I see. In that case, call me later.
- 健太 Kentaうん、後でかけるね。Un, ato de kakeru ne.Yeah, I'll call you later.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
