1.
public telephone; payphone
A telephone available for public use, typically operated with coins or prepaid cards. Still found in Japan at stations and convenience stores.
公衆電話はどこですか。
Where is the public telephone?
駅の前に公衆電話がある。
There is a payphone in front of the station.
携帯の電池が切れたので、公衆電話から電話をかけた。
My phone battery died, so I made a call from a payphone.
USAGE:
公衆電話 combines 公衆 (public) and 電話 (telephone). Although their numbers have decreased with the spread of mobile phones, payphones remain in Japan for emergency use. Green payphones accept テレホンカード (telephone cards) and coins.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 公衆電話をかける (to make a call from a payphone)
- 公衆電話ボックス (phone booth)
- 公衆電話の設置場所 (payphone location)