Phone Expressions (전화 표현) | Korean Grammar Documentation

Phone expressions in Korean include specific phrases used for answering, making calls, and conducting phone conversations. These differ from in-person communication.

Answering the Phone

여보세요 - Hello (Phone Only)

Standard phone greeting:

여보세요: Hello (answering phone)
Only used on telephone calls
Never used in person
Neutral formality, works for all calls

Etymology:

From 여기 보세요 (Look here)
Evolved into phone-specific greeting

Usage:

Answering personal calls
Answering business calls
Answering unknown numbers

Business Phone Greeting

[Company name]입니다:

This is [Company name]
Professional phone greeting

Examples:

삼성입니다 (This is Samsung)
ABC 회사입니다 (This is ABC Company)
고객센터입니다 (This is customer service)

Full business greeting:

여보세요, [Company] [Department]입니다. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Hello, this is [Company] [Department]. How may I help you?

Identifying Yourself

Personal Calls

[Name]인데요:

This is [Name] (casual polite)
민수인데요 (This is Minsu)

[Name]이에요/예요:

This is [Name] (polite)
지수예요 (This is Jisu)

저 [Name]인데요:

This is [Name] speaking
More polite, adds 저 (I)

저 [Name]입니다:

This is [Name] (formal)
Professional or formal situations

Business Calls

[Company] [Name]입니다:

This is [Name] from [Company]

[Department] [Name]입니다:

This is [Name] from [Department]

Example:

삼성 마케팅팀 김민수입니다
This is Kim Minsu from Samsung Marketing Team

Asking Who Is Calling

Polite Inquiry

누구세요?:

Who is this? (polite)

실례지만, 누구세요?:

Excuse me, but who is this? (more polite)

어디서 거신 거예요?:

Where are you calling from? (polite)

성함이 어떻게 되세요?:

What is your name? (formal)

Casual Inquiry

누구야?:

Who is this? (casual)

누구?:

Who? (very casual)

Wrong Number

Receiving Wrong Number

잘못 거셨어요:

You have the wrong number (polite)

잘못 걸렸어요:

Wrong number (polite)

여기 그런 사람 없는데요:

There's no such person here (polite)

번호를 잘못 누르신 것 같아요:

I think you dialed the wrong number (polite)

Making Wrong Number Call

죄송합니다, 잘못 걸었어요:

Sorry, I called the wrong number (polite)

번호를 잘못 눌렀어요:

I pressed the wrong number (polite)

실례했습니다:

Excuse me (formal)

Asking to Speak to Someone

Requesting Person

[Name] 좀 바꿔 주세요:

Please let me talk to [Name] (polite)

[Name] 계세요?:

Is [Name] there? (polite)

[Name] 좀 바꿔 주실래요?:

Could you put [Name] on? (polite)

Formal Request

[Name] 부장님 계십니까?:

Is Director [Name] there? (formal)

[Name]님 좀 바꿔 주시겠어요?:

Could you transfer me to [Name]? (formal polite)

Casual Request

[Name] 있어?:

Is [Name] there? (casual)

[Name] 좀 바꿔 줘:

Let me talk to [Name] (casual)

Transferring/Holding

Putting Someone On Hold

잠깐만 기다려 주세요:

Please wait a moment (polite)

잠시만요:

Just a moment (polite)

전화 바꿔 드릴게요:

I'll transfer you (polite)

잠깐만 기다리세요:

Please hold (polite)

Person Not Available

지금 안 계신데요:

They're not here right now (polite)

자리에 안 계세요:

They're not at their desk (polite)

외출 중이신데요:

They're out right now (polite)

회의 중이세요:

They're in a meeting (polite)

통화 중이세요:

They're on another call (polite)

Leaving Messages

Taking a Message

메시지 남기시겠어요?:

Would you like to leave a message? (polite)

전할 말씀 있으세요?:

Do you have a message? (polite)

메모 남겨 드릴까요?:

Shall I take a note? (polite)

Leaving a Message

메시지 좀 전해 주세요:

Please pass on a message (polite)

전화 왔다고 전해 주세요:

Please tell them I called (polite)

연락 달라고 전해 주세요:

Please tell them to call me back (polite)

다시 전화하겠다고 전해 주세요:

Please tell them I'll call back (polite)

Asking for Callback

전화 좀 주시겠어요?:

Could you call me? (polite)

연락 주세요:

Please contact me (polite)

다시 전화 부탁드립니다:

Please call back (formal)

Making a Call

Asking to Call

전화 좀 해 줄래요?:

Could you call me? (polite)

전화 주세요:

Please call me (polite)

나중에 전화할게요:

I'll call you later (polite)

Explaining Purpose

[Name]님께 전화 드렸는데요:

I'm calling for [Name] (polite)

문의 사항이 있어서요:

I have a question (polite)

약속 확인하려고요:

To confirm an appointment (polite)

During the Call

Asking to Speak Up

좀 크게 말씀해 주세요:

Please speak louder (polite)

잘 안 들려요:

I can't hear well (polite)

목소리가 작아요:

Your voice is quiet (polite)

Asking to Repeat

다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요:

Please say that again (polite)

잘 못 들었어요:

I couldn't hear that (polite)

뭐라고요?:

What? / Pardon? (casual polite)

Bad Connection

전화가 잘 안 들려요:

The connection is bad (polite)

신호가 안 좋아요:

The signal is poor (polite)

끊어질 것 같아요:

It seems like it will cut out (polite)

다시 걸게요:

I'll call back (polite)

Ending the Call

Polite Endings

그럼 이만 끊을게요:

Then I'll hang up now (polite)

통화 감사합니다:

Thank you for the call (formal)

좋은 하루 보내세요:

Have a good day (polite)

안녕히 계세요:

Goodbye (polite, to person staying)

수고하세요:

Keep up the good work (polite)

Casual Endings

그럼 끊을게:

I'll hang up now (casual)

나중에 또 전화할게:

I'll call again later (casual)

이따 봐:

See you later (casual)

안녕:

Bye (casual)

Business Endings

감사합니다. 좋은 하루 되세요:

Thank you. Have a good day (formal)

다시 연락드리겠습니다:

I'll contact you again (formal)

수고하셨습니다:

Thank you for your work (formal)

Voicemail Expressions

Leaving Voicemail

지금 전화 못 받으셔서 메시지 남깁니다:

Leaving a message since you can't answer (polite)

[Name]입니다. 연락 주세요:

This is [Name]. Please call back (polite)

급한 일이 있어서요. 전화 주세요:

It's urgent. Please call me (polite)

Voicemail Greeting

지금 전화를 받을 수 없습니다:

I can't answer the phone right now

삐 소리 후에 메시지를 남겨 주세요:

Please leave a message after the beep

Text vs. Call Culture

Asking Before Calling

지금 통화 가능해요?:

Can you talk now? (polite)

전화 괜찮아요?:

Is calling okay? (polite)

통화 가능한 시간 알려주세요:

Please let me know when you can talk (polite)

Preferring Text

문자로 보내 주세요:

Please send by text (polite)

카톡으로 연락해요:

Let's contact via KakaoTalk (polite)

급하면 전화 주세요:

Call if it's urgent (polite)

Emergency Calls

119 (Fire/Ambulance)

불이야!:

Fire!

사람 살려!:

Help! / Save me!

구급차 보내 주세요:

Please send an ambulance (polite)

112 (Police)

도둑이야!:

Thief!

사고 났어요:

There's been an accident (polite)

위치는 [address]입니다:

The location is [address]

Customer Service Calls

Reaching Customer Service

고객센터 연결해 주세요:

Please connect me to customer service (polite)

상담원 연결 부탁드립니다:

Please connect me to a representative (formal)

문의 사항이 있는데요:

I have an inquiry (polite)

Automated System

한국어는 1번을 눌러주세요:

Press 1 for Korean

상담원 연결은 0번:

Press 0 for an operator

Common Phone Vocabulary

전화기: Telephone

핸드폰 / 휴대폰: Cell phone

스마트폰: Smartphone

공중전화: Pay phone

유선전화: Landline

무선전화: Wireless phone

Actions

전화하다: To call

전화 받다: To answer phone

전화 끊다: To hang up

전화 걸다: To make a call

부재중 전화: Missed call

통화 중: Busy (on another call)

전화 연결: Phone connection

Cultural Notes

Phone Etiquette

Important rules:

Always say 여보세요 when answering
Identify yourself in business calls
Use both hands when receiving phone from elder
Don't use speakerphone in public
Step away from others to talk

Calling Time

Appropriate times:

Avoid early morning (before 9 AM)
Avoid late night (after 10 PM)
Business hours for work calls
Ask "통화 가능해요?" first

Texting vs. Calling

Modern culture:

Text before calling
KakaoTalk more common than calls
Calls often seen as urgent
Older generation prefers calls

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 안녕하세요 when answering phone

Wrong greeting for phone

✅ Correct: 여보세요

Standard phone greeting

❌ Incorrect: Hanging up without closing phrase

Considered rude

✅ Correct: 그럼 이만 끊을게요

Polite way to end call

Summary Table

Expression	Situation	Meaning	Formality
여보세요	Answering phone	Hello (phone only)	Neutral
누구세요?	Asking caller	Who is this?	Polite
잘못 거셨어요	Wrong number	Wrong number	Polite
바꿔 주세요	Request person	Please put them on	Polite
잠깐만 기다려 주세요	Putting on hold	Please wait a moment	Polite
안 계신데요	Person unavailable	They're not here	Polite
메시지 남기시겠어요?	Taking message	Want to leave a message?	Polite
전화 왔다고 전해 주세요	Leaving message	Tell them I called	Polite
그럼 이만 끊을게요	Ending call	I'll hang up now	Polite
통화 감사합니다	Thanking for call	Thank you for the call	Formal