What does "moshi moshi" mean in Japanese
"Moshi moshi" (もしもし) means "hello" — it's how you answer a phone call. The word grew out of 申します (moushimasu, "I have the honor to say"), shortened to 申し申し during the first telephone conversations. Important detail: in a business call, you don't say this — there you answer with the company name or はい, and もしもし is considered informal.
A phrase known to anyone who has watched even one anime — and one of the few where the polite form turns out to be inappropriate. Let's break down why.
What it means and where it comes from
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| もしもし | moshi moshi · moshi moshi | Hello |
| 申します | moushimasu · moushimasu | I have the honor to say (original form) |
| はい | hai · hai | Yes; speaking (business answer to a call) |
| お電話ありがとうございます | odenwa arigatou gozaimasu · odenwa arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you for calling (standard in companies) |
| 失礼します | shitsurei shimasu · shitsurei shimasu | Allow me to take my leave (this is how you end a call) |
The fox legend
There is a belief: the repetition is needed because a fox shapeshifter cannot say the word twice, and so they tested the interlocutor. The story is beautiful, but it appeared later than the phrase itself — the real reason is simpler: with poor connection, repetition helped ensure you were heard.
Phone etiquette: what to say instead
- Calling a company — introduce yourself: «Ивановです。お世話になっております» («thank you for your cooperation»).
- Answering a work call — say the company and department name, not もしもし.
- With someone older or higher in rank, もしもし sounds too familiar: better to use はい.
- To check if you're heard: もしもし、聞こえますか («hello, can you hear me?») — here the phrase is always appropriate.
- What not to do: don't start a business call with もしもし — this is the first thing they'll correct at work in Japan.
Say it out loud — the app will compare with the reference recording.
How to end a conversation
Not "bye," but 失礼します — "allow me to take my leave." In a business context, the caller hangs up first, and does so gently: a sharp hang-up is considered rude.
FAQ
- What does "moshi moshi" mean?
- もしもし — "hello." It grew out of 申します ("I have the honor to say") in the early years of telephone communication.
- Can you say "moshi moshi" at work?
- No, it's informal. In a company, you answer with the company name or はい.
- Is it true that the repetition is connected to foxes?
- That's a later legend. The real reason is simpler: with poor connection, repetition confirmed you were heard.
- How do you end a phone conversation in Japanese?
- 失礼します — "allow me to take my leave." "Bye" is not used in business calls.
Updated: 2026-07-25