携帯(けいたい)

けいたい
noun
mobile phone, cell phone
electronics
See also: 形態(けいたい) (form, shape), 携帯電話(けいたいでんわ) (full form)
1. mobile phone, cell phone
A portable telephone. Short for 携帯(けいたい)電話(でんわ). One of the most commonly used words in modern Japanese.
携帯(けいたい)を忘(わす)れました。
I forgot my phone.
What's your cell phone number?
I took a photo with my phone.

携帯(けいたい) is short for 携帯(けいたい)電話(でんわ) (mobile phone). Literally means 'portable' but in daily conversation almost always means phone.

Types

  • 携帯(けいたい)(電話(でんわ)): cell phone (general term)
  • ガラケー: feature phone, the pre-smartphone mobile (from ガラパゴス携帯(けいたい))
  • スマホ: smartphone (modern standard)

Common expressions

Usage

携帯(けいたい)する means 'to carry' (formal): 身分証(みぶんしょう)を携帯(けいたい)する (to carry ID).

Related words