Business phone calls

Conversation phrases, Stage 4chunk 22 of 23Errands and service

Open a business call, ask who's calling and promise to call back.

• itsumo arigatou gozaimasuthanks as always
• osewa ni natte orimasuthanks for your continued support (business greeting)
• odenwa arigatou gozaimasuthank you for calling
• dochirasama desu kawho is this?; may I ask who's calling?
• orikaeshi odenwa shimasuI'll call you back; we'll return your call

Mix-ups Orikaeshi (call back) sounds like okaeshi (your change).

itsumo arigatou gozaimasu

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thanks as always

Thanks for continuing help: staff to regular customers, or you to a coworker or delivery driver you see often.

To family or friends: itsumo arigatou ne.

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itsumo arigatou gozaimasu. kyou wa nan ni shimasu ka?

Thanks for coming again. What'll it be today?

いつもありがとうございます。今日は何にしますか？

Written いつもありがとうございますWho you say it and hear itHeard 5× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

osewa ni natte orimasu

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thanks for your continued support (business greeting)

Opens almost every work phone call or email to a client or partner; the other side answers kochira koso osewa ni natte orimasu.

The past form osewa ni narimashita thanks someone who looked after you, e.g. when you leave a host family or a job.

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itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu. tanaka desu.

Hello, it's Tanaka. Thanks as always for your support.

いつもお世話になっております。田中です。

Written お世話になっております · おせわになっておりますWho you say it and hear itHeard 5× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

odenwa arigatou gozaimasu

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thank you for calling

How shops and companies answer the phone, followed by their name; reply with your name and what you want.

Not used on personal calls, where people answer with moshimoshi.

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odenwa arigatou gozaimasu. sakura shokudou desu.

Thank you for calling. This is Sakura Diner.

お電話ありがとうございます。さくら食堂です。

Written お電話ありがとうございます · おでんわありがとうございますWho said to youHeard 4× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

dochirasama desu ka

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who is this?; may I ask who's calling?

Asked politely on the phone or at the door when the person is unknown; answer with your name + desu.

The casual dare? sounds blunt to a stranger. Business calls often use dochirasama deshou ka.

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shitsurei desu ga, dochirasama desu ka?

Excuse me, but may I ask who's calling?

失礼ですが、どちら様ですか？

Written どちら様ですか · どちらさまですかWho you say it and hear itHeard 72× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

orikaeshi odenwa shimasu

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I'll call you back; we'll return your call

Business phrase: staff say it when the person you want is out, and you can use it at work too.

Casual: orikaesu ne. Orikaeshi denwa kudasai means please call me back.

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tantousha ga modorimashitara, orikaeshi odenwa shimasu.

When the person in charge is back, we'll call you back.

担当者が戻りましたら、折り返しお電話します。

Written 折り返しお電話します · おりかえしおでんわしますWho you say it and hear itHeard 47× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles