Meaning
telephone; phone call
Nuance & Usage
電話 means both "telephone" (the device) and "phone call" (the act). As a suru-verb: 電話する or 電話をかける (denwa o kakeru — to make a phone call). To receive: 電話を受ける or 電話に出る (denwa ni deru). The more modern term for smartphone is スマートフォン (sumaatofon) or スマホ (sumaho) in casual speech. 電話番号 (denwa bangou) means phone number.
Common Mistakes
To say "I will call you," Japanese uses 電話します or 電話をかけます, not just 電話があります (which means "there is/was a phone call"). Also: 電話中 (denwachuu) means "on the phone / line busy" — the 中 suffix means "in the middle of." Don't confuse 電話をかける (to make a call) with 電話をもらう (to receive a call).
Example Sentences
後で電話してもいいですか？
あとででんわしてもいいですか？
Is it okay if I call you later?
電話番号を教えてください。
でんわばんごうをおしえてください。
Please tell me your phone number.
さっき母から電話がありました。
さっきははからでんわがありました。
My mother called a little while ago.
Quick Quiz
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