電話をかける
denwa o kakeru[dẽ̞ɰ̃β̞a̠ o̞ ka̠ke̞ɾɯ̟]
To phone (someone) in Japanese is said as 電話をかける (denwa o kakeru). Wiktionary also lists 電話する (denwa suru).
Meaning: to call (someone) on the telephone (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 電話をかける | denwa o kakeru | [dẽ̞ɰ̃β̞a̠ o̞ ka̠ke̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 電話する | denwa suru |
Both primary forms mean to call someone on the telephone. 電話する is a common, concise way to say 'to phone' and is frequently used in casual conversation to express intentions like 'I'll call you' or 'I'll give you a call'.
What does it mean word for word?
電話する is a compound verb. It is formed by combining the noun denwa (telephone) with the verb suru (to do).
Which one should you use?
電話をかける is slightly more formal or descriptive than 電話する, which is more common and concise.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
電話する is a compound verb made from the noun denwa and the verb suru.
How do you pronounce it?
denwa o kakeru
Did you know?
- The formal phrase お電話させていただきます uses a grammatical structure that frames the act of calling as a 'favor' granted by the other person, even though the caller is the one initiating the action.
- To say you are hanging up the phone, you use the verb 切る (kiru) in the phrase 電話を切る, which literally means 'to cut the telephone'.
- Japanese uses a specific word 話し中 (hanashichū) to describe a 'busy signal', which literally means 'in the middle of talking'.
Examples in context
- 電話するよ。I'll phone you.This sentence shows how to say 'I'll phone you' using 電話する.Tatoeba #3583337 by arnab, translation #480884 by minshirui
- 毎晩電話するよ。I'll phone you every night.Tatoeba #81225 by bunbuku, translation #1438081 by CK
- 着いたら電話するよ。I'll phone you when I arrive.Tatoeba #10463604 by small_snow, translation #2543074 by CK
- Watashi wa denwa o tsukaimasu. (私は電話を使います。)I use the phone.
- Denwa wa mainichi no seikatsu ni hitsuyō desu. (電話は毎日の生活に必要です。)A phone is necessary for everyday life.
- Keitai ga nakunatta! (携帯がなくなった！)I lost my phone!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are discussing who should contact the restaurant.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵、お店に電話をかける？Himari, omise ni denwa o kakeru?Himari, will you call the shop?
- 陽葵 Himariえっ、私がかけるの？E, watashi ga kakeru no?Eh, I'm the one calling?
- 陽太 Yotaお願い。僕、今忙しいんだ。Onegai. Boku, ima isogashii nda.Please. I'm busy right now.
- 陽葵 Himariわかった。今すぐ電話をかけるね。Wakatta. Ima sugu denwa o kakeru ne.Alright. I'll call them right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “phone” translations and entries 電話をかける, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
