Ring, Ring! Making Phone Calls in Chinese — Essential Phrases and Etiquette (A2)

Ring, ring! Ready to handle a phone call in Mandarin? In this friendly guide, you’ll learn how to start a call, ask for the person you need, leave a message, deal with bad signal, and end the conversation politely. We’ll keep it practical with everyday phrases, short patterns, and quick exercises you can do right away.

First words on the phone

In Chinese, most phone calls start with “喂” (like “hello?” on the phone). In more formal or service situations, add “您好”。 Then introduce yourself with “我是…”。

喂 wéi
Hello? (on the phone)
interjection
喂，你好。
Hello? Hi.
您好 nín hǎo
Hello (polite)
expression
您好，我是李娜。
Hello, I’m Lina.
我是… wǒ shì
I am… / This is… (introducing yourself)
phrase
我是王明。
This is Wang Ming.
请问 qǐngwèn
May I ask… (polite opener)
expression
请问张经理在吗？
May I ask if Manager Zhang is available?
Mandarin
喂，您好！我是王明。
Hello! This is Wang Ming.

Polite check: Is it a good time?

When you’re not sure if the person can talk, use this polite question:

Mandarin
现在方便说话吗？
Lit: Now convenient speak, question?
Is it convenient to talk now?
方便说话吗？ fāngbiàn shuōhuà ma
Is it convenient to talk?
phrase
您现在方便说话吗？
Is it convenient for you to talk now?
🔠 Put the words in order

Build a polite question to check if it’s a good time.

Asking for the person you need

To speak with someone, say “我找…” (I’m looking for / I’d like to speak to…) or ask “请问…在吗？” If you’re speaking to a receptionist or service staff, use 您 for extra politeness.

找 zhǎo
to look for; to ask to speak to (on the phone)
verb
我找小李。
I’d like to speak to Xiao Li.
Mandarin
请问张经理在吗？
Lit: Please ask Manager Zhang at/exist question?
May I ask if Manager Zhang is available?
打电话 dǎ diànhuà
to make a phone call
verb
我明天打电话给你。
I’ll call you tomorrow.
给 gěi
to; for (preposition used before the person)
preposition
我给你打电话。
I’ll call you.
🔠 Put the words in order

Make a sentence: I will call you tomorrow.

When they’re busy, transferring, or leaving a message

Common phrases for waiting, transferring, or leaving a message:

稍等一下 shāo děng yíxià
please wait a moment
expression
请您稍等一下。
Please wait a moment.
接电话 jiē diànhuà
to answer a call
verb
他在开会，暂时不能接电话。
He’s in a meeting and can’t answer the phone for now.
转接 zhuǎnjiē
to transfer (a call)
verb
我帮您转接客服。
I’ll transfer you to customer service.
留言 liúyán
to leave a message
verb/noun
他不在，你可以留言。
He’s not here; you can leave a message.
回电话 huí diànhuà
to call back
verb
请他回我电话。
Please ask him to call me back.
Mandarin
不好意思，我没听清楚，可以再说一遍吗？
Lit: Not good meaning, I didn’t listen clearly, can again say one time?
Sorry, I didn’t hear clearly. Could you say it again?

我明天会给你。

请问张经理在？

他不在，你要不要？

电话响了，我马上。

我王老师。

Mini phone call: put the conversation in order

Practice a simple call with a company receptionist. Drag the lines into a natural order.

💬 Reorder this call

Dealing with problems on the call

Bad signal? Wrong number? Use these quick lines.

你打错了 nǐ dǎ cuò le
You dialed the wrong number
sentence
对不起，你打错了。
Sorry, you’ve dialed the wrong number.
Mandarin
信号不好，你能再说一遍吗？
Lit: Signal not good, you can again say one time?
The signal is bad. Can you say that again?
Mandarin
我在开会，稍后给你回电话。
Lit: I at meeting, later give you return call.
I’m in a meeting. I’ll call you back later.
🧠 Phone call basics

Culture and etiquette tips

  • Start with 喂, then add 您好 in formal or business calls.
  • Introduce yourself early: 我是 + name; or 您是哪位？ when asking who’s calling politely.
  • Time matters: morning calls for business are common; avoid very early or late unless urgent.
  • Be polite and brief. If busy, say: 我在开会，稍后给你回电话。
  • If you need someone else, ask with 请问…在吗？ or 我找… and be ready to leave your number.
我打电话你。 → 我给你打电话。 Use 给 + 人 + 打电话 to mark the person receiving the call. 你方便说话吗现在？ → 现在你方便说话吗？ Time phrases like 现在 usually go before the subject or after; keep the sentence order natural. 你是谁？ → 请问您是哪位？ Polite version when asking who’s calling.
电话 phone; telephone 号码 number
回 to return 电话 phone call

Quick recap and practice

You’ve learned how to start a call with 喂 / 您好, introduce yourself with 我是…, ask for someone with 我找… / 请问…在吗？, and handle waiting, transferring, leaving messages, and calling back. Try this mini practice:

  • Start a call to a company and ask for Manager Li politely.
  • If they’re not available, leave a message and your number.
  • End the call politely with 再见.

Keep these patterns short and ready. The more you say them out loud, the more natural they’ll feel. 加油！