1.
hello (on the phone)
A greeting used when answering or making phone calls.
もしもし is the standard phone greeting in Japanese, used by both the caller and the receiver in casual contexts.
Usage
- 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?)
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.
Cultural note
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.