How do you say "to answer (the phone)" in Japanese?

出る

deru

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to answer (the phone)" is 出る (deru).

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Pronunciation

出る is written using kanji. Romanised as deru, it sounds roughly like "deh-roo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 出 shows a plant or arrow emerging from the ground, meaning to come out or exit. In modern use, it includes answering by coming to the phone.

Example sentence

子供たちは出ますのが楽しそうです。

Kodomotachi wa demasu no ga tanoshisou desu.

The children seem to enjoy answer (the phone)ing.

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How to remember 出る

Something emerging or sprouting out. When you answer, you come forward and engage.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 出る

How do you pronounce 出る?

出る is romanised as deru. Say it roughly like "deh-roo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 出る formal or casual?

出る is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 出る written in Japanese?

出る is written using kanji. The kanji 出 shows a plant or arrow emerging from the ground, meaning to come out or exit.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"To answer (the phone)" in other languages

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