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Moshi Moshi Meaning: Why Japanese Say It on the Phone

もしもし (moshi moshi) is the standard greeting Japanese speakers use when answering or opening a phone call. It is so universally associated with phones that hearing it immediately signals a telephone conversation. The phrase has a surprisingly deep history rooted in classical Japanese speech.

Where Does Moshi Moshi Come From?

もしもし comes from 申す (mousu), the humble form of the verb "to say" in Japanese. In the early days of telephone use in Japan, operators and callers would say 申し上げます (moushiagemasu), meaning "I humbly speak," to get the other person's attention. Over time this was shortened to 申す (mousu), then to もし (moshi), and finally doubled to もしもし as a way of being clear and emphatic on the crackling phone lines of the era. The doubling also follows a common Japanese speech pattern used to soften or add warmth to a word. By the Meiji and Taisho periods, もしもし had become the standard telephone greeting it remains today.

Phone Vocabulary in Japanese

Here are the key words you need for talking about phones and phone calls in Japanese.

Japanese	Reading	Romaji	English
もしもし	もしもし	moshi moshi	Hello (phone greeting)
電話	でんわ	denwa	telephone / phone call
携帯	けいたい	keitai	mobile phone (casual)
スマホ	スマホ	sumaho	smartphone
着信	ちゃくしん	chakushin	incoming call
留守番電話	るすばんでんわ	rusuban denwa	voicemail / answering machine
切る	きる	kiru	to hang up
かける	かける	kakeru	to make a phone call
出る	でる	deru	to answer (a call)
折り返す	おりかえす	orikhaesu	to call back / return a call

もしもしもしもし

moshi moshiHello (phone greeting)

電話でんわ

denwatelephone / phone call

携帯けいたい

keitaimobile phone (casual)

スマホスマホ

sumahosmartphone

着信ちゃくしん

chakushinincoming call

留守番電話るすばんでんわ

rusuban denwavoicemail / answering machine

切るきる

kiruto hang up

かけるかける

kakeruto make a phone call

出るでる

deruto answer (a call)

折り返すおりかえす

orikhaesuto call back / return a call

A Natural Phone Conversation Opening

When NOT to Use Moshi Moshi

もしもし is a casual greeting and it does not belong in professional or business phone calls. When a company employee answers an external call, they say はい、〇〇株式会社でございます (hai, [company name] de gozaimasu), meaning "Yes, this is [Company]." Using もしもし in that context would sound unprofessional and out of place. There is also a common belief in Japan that con artists (ore ore sagi scammers) avoid saying もしもし to prevent the person on the other end from realizing they do not recognize the voice. Because of this, some older adults have been advised not to say もしもし first when picking up unknown calls. In everyday casual calls between friends and family, though, it remains completely natural.

Moshi Moshi Questions Answered

Is moshi moshi only used on the phone?

Almost always, yes. It is so strongly tied to telephone calls that using it in person would sound strange or comedic. In face-to-face situations, Japanese speakers use すみません (sumimasen) to get someone's attention instead.

Why do Japanese people say it twice?

The doubling goes back to its origin as a shortened form of 申す (mousu). Saying it once felt incomplete, so it became もしもし as a natural pair. Doubling words in Japanese often adds warmth or softness, and in this case it also helped the phrase carry better over early telephone connections.

Is moshi moshi rude to use in a business call?

Yes, it is considered too casual for business contexts. Japanese business phone etiquette calls for はい、〇〇でございます when answering, or a self-introduction like 〇〇と申します (moushimasu) when calling out. Save もしもし for friends and family.

What does moshi moshi literally translate to?

There is no clean direct translation, but the closest is something like "I speak, I speak" or "hello, hello." It functions as a phone-specific "hello" and does not carry literal meaning in modern usage.

Can foreigners use moshi moshi in Japan?

Absolutely. Answering a casual call with もしもし is perfectly natural and will not raise any eyebrows. Japanese people often appreciate when learners use contextually correct phrases like this one.