もしもし
moshi moshi[mo̞ɕi mo̞ɕi̥]
The Japanese phrase for "hello hello" is もしもし (moshi moshi).
もしもし is a specific greeting used almost exclusively when answering the phone or when you suspect someone is on the line but cannot hear you. It serves to check if the other person is still listening.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the standard general greeting こんにちは (konnichiwa), もしもし is not used for face-to-face greetings.
How do you pronounce it?
moshi moshi
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, bowing is an important aspect of greetings.
Did you know?
- Historically, もしもし was used to distinguish humans from ghosts. In Japanese folklore, spirits were believed to be unable to say the word twice in a row.
- The phrase もしもし actually contains a hidden humble verb, as it is a repetition of もし, a shortened version of the polite verb 'mōsu', which means 'to speak' or 'to say'.
- Using もしもし in a face-to-face encounter can be interpreted as suggesting the other person is daydreaming or not paying attention. It is essentially a way of saying 'Are you there?' or 'Wake up'.
Examples in context
- もしもし、聞こえますか？moshimoshi, kikoemasu ka?Hello, hello, can you hear me?
- もしもし、誰ですか？moshimoshi, dare desu ka?Hello, hello, who is it?
- もしもし、電波が悪いみたいです。moshimoshi, denpa ga warui mitai desu.Hello, hello, it seems like the signal is bad.
Example conversation
Himari is calling Kenta, but the connection is poor.
- 陽葵 Himariもしもし、健太くん？moshimoshi, Kenta-kun?Hello, hello, Kenta?
- 健太 Kentaあ、陽葵ちゃん？もしもし？A, Himari-chan? moshimoshi?Oh, Himari? Hello, hello?
- 陽葵 Himari声がよく聞こえません。koe ga yoku kikoemasen.I can't hear your voice well.
- 健太 Kentaもう一度かけ直すね。mou ichido kakenaosu ne.I will call you back again.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry もしもし, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries もしもし, CC BY-SA 4.0.
