通話したい
tsūwa shitai
The Japanese phrase for "wanna call" is 通話したい (tsūwa shitai).
通話したい is an informal way to express that you want to have a telephone or voice conversation with someone. It is commonly used in digital contexts, such as messaging apps (LINE, Discord), to suggest switching from text to a voice call.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
通話したい is an informal way to express this desire. For a more polite version suitable for acquaintances or people you are not close with, you can use 通話したいです. In very casual conversations, you might also use 電話したいんだけど to convey a conversational tone.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect, an alternative phrase for "wanna call" is 電話したいねん.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is in the 'tai' form, which expresses the speaker's desire to perform an action.
How do you pronounce it?
tsūwa shitai
Did you know?
- Using 通話したい with a superior or a teacher would be considered quite rude, even with the 'desu' addition, because the 'tai' form expresses a direct, personal desire that can seem demanding.
- When requesting a call, Japanese people often add a 'cushion phrase' like 今いいかな meaning 'is now okay' to avoid being intrusive.
- The word 通話 (tsūwa) contains the kanji 通, which means 'to pass through' or 'to commute'. This implies that the conversation is a flow of data or sound passing through a connection.
Examples in context
- 今、ちょっと通話したいんだけど。Ima, chotto tsuuwa shitai ndakedo.I wanna call you for a bit now.
- 声が聞きたいから、通話したいです。Koe ga kikitai kara, tsuuwa shitai desu.I wanna call because I want to hear your voice.
- 夜に少しだけ通話したい。Yoru ni sukoshi dake tsuuwa shitai.I wanna call for just a little bit at night.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are texting about their plans for the evening.
- 健太 Kenta後で少し通話したい？Ato de sukoshi tsuuwa shitai?Do you wanna call for a bit later?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、ぜひ通話したい！Un, zehi tsuuwa shitai!Yeah, I definitely wanna call!
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、八時くらいに電話するね。Jaa, hachiji kurai ni denwa suru ne.Then, I'll call you around eight o'clock.
- 陽葵 Himariわかった、待ってるね。Wakatta, matteru ne.Okay, I'll be waiting.
