1.
outside telephone line; external line
A telephone line connecting to outside the building or organization, as opposed to an internal extension line. In Japanese offices, you typically dial a number (often 0) to access an outside line.
Usage
外線 is standard office vocabulary in Japan. Most business phone systems distinguish between 外線 (outside lines) and 内線 (internal extensions). Knowing this distinction is essential for working in a Japanese office.
Common collocations
- 外線をかける (to make an outside call)
- 外線が入る (an outside call comes in)
- 外線番号 (outside line number)
- 外線に出る (to answer an outside call)