間違い電話
machigai denwa
The Japanese phrase for "wrong number" is 間違い電話 (machigai denwa).
間違い電話 is a noun used to describe a telephone call where the person dialing has made a mistake in the number.
Meaning: A call with a mistake in the number dialled (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
machigai denwa
Did you know?
- In Japan, it is common to apologize multiple times using すみません even if you were the one who received the 間違い電話.
- The word 電話 (denwa) is a combination of two kanji: 電 (electricity) and 話 (talk), literally making it an 'electric talk'.
- While 間違い電話 describes the event, if you want to say 'You have the wrong number' to a caller, it is more common to say 番号が違います (bangō ga chigaimasu), meaning 'The number is different'.
Examples in context
- 最近、急に間違い電話が増えたんだけど、なんでだと思う？Recently, I've been getting more calls from people who had the wrong number. Why do you think that is?This example shows how to discuss an increase in the number of calls received via 間違い電話.Tatoeba #11873672 by bunbuku, translation #11915794 by end
- 間違い電話だった。It was a wrong number.This example is used to state that a call was a 間違い電話.Tatoeba #1325188 by Scott, translation #1326612 by Scott
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki answers her phone and realizes the caller has the wrong number.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、もしもし。どなたですか？hai, moshimoshi. donata desu ka?Hello? Who is this?
- 陽太 Yotaすみません、間違い電話でした。sumimasen, machigai denwa deshita.I'm sorry, it was a wrong number.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、そうなんですね。大丈夫ですよ。a, sou nan desu ne. daijoubu desu yo.Oh, I see. That's okay.
- 陽太 Yota失礼いたしました。shitsurei itashimashita.Please excuse me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wrong number” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
