もしもし
もしもし
interjection
hello (on phone)
1.
hello (on the phone)
A greeting used when answering or making phone calls.
もしもし、田中です。
Hello, this is Tanaka.
もしもし、聞こえますか。
Hello, can you hear me?
「もしもし」「はい、山田です。」
"Hello?" "Yes, this is Yamada."
もしもし、鈴木さんのお宅ですか。
Hello, is this the Suzuki residence?
もしもし、電話が切れそうです。
Hello? The call is about to drop.
もしもし、そちらは何の会社ですか。
Hello, what company is this?
2.
excuse me (to get attention)
Used to get someone's attention.
もしもし、すみません。
Excuse me (to get attention).
もしもし、落としましたよ。
Excuse me, you dropped something.
もしもし、そこの方。
Excuse me, you over there.
もしもし、忘れ物ですよ。
Excuse me, you forgot something.
もしもし、道を教えていただけませんか。
Excuse me, could you tell me the way?
もしもし is the standard phone greeting in Japanese, used by both the caller and the receiver in casual contexts.
USAGE ON THE PHONE:
- Answering a call: もしもし、田中です。(Hello, this is Tanaka.)
- Checking the connection: もしもし、聞こえますか。(Hello, can you hear me?)
- Calling someone's home: もしもし、鈴木さんのお宅ですか。(Hello, is this the Suzuki residence?)
GETTING ATTENTION:
もしもし can also be used to get a stranger's attention, similar to 'excuse me': もしもし、落としましたよ。(Excuse me, you dropped something.) This usage is less common than すみません.
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE:
In business settings, もしもし is generally avoided. Instead, the receiver states their company name: はい、〇〇会社でございます。Callers introduce themselves with お世話になっております (Thank you for your continued support).
ETYMOLOGY:
Derived from 申す (humble form of 言う, 'to say'), originally 申し申し.