Telephone English

When you answer the phone: Good morning. This is Chengtai Trading Company. May I help you? Good afternoon. This is Dan An Commercial Bank. What can I do for you?

Hello. Overseas Sales Department. Taming Wang speaking.

Hello. This is the Wang residence.

To ask who is calling: Who's calling, please?

Who's speaking, please? May I have your name, please? May I ask who's calling, please?

To ask who the speaker wants to talk with: Who do you want to talk [speak] to?

Who would you like to speak with?

The name of the person you are calling, please?

Who are you calling?

To ask the purpose of the call: May I ask what your business is?

In what regard are you calling?

Could I ask what this is in connection with, please?

May I ask what you want to speak to him about?

May I ask what this is about, please?

When you can’t answer the phone right now: It sounds like someone is at the door. Can I call you back?

I have a call on the other line now. Can I call you back?

May I call you back in ten minutes?

When you can’t answer the phone right now: I'm just about to go out.

I'm afraid I've got some visitors at the moment. I can't talk now.

I'm busy at the moment. Can I get back to you a little later?

When you don’t understand what the speaker said: Could you put that in more specific terms?

I'm sorry. I couldn't follow you.

You're talking too fast. I can't keep up.

When you don’t understand what the speaker said: Could you put that more simply?

Excuse me, but I didn't hear that, would you mind repeating it, please?

To make sure what the speaker said: Let me repeat that back to you. You're saying that __________?

You did say ____________, didn't you?

Let me confirm that.

O.K. Let me repeat that to you just to make sure.

When someone can’t answer the phone?

I'm sorry, Mr. Wang is not in at the moment.

I'm sorry, he's not in the office now.

I'm sorry, he's out for lunch now.

I'm afraid she's out at the moment.

When someone can’t answer the phone?

I'm sorry, he's out for the rest of the day.

I'm sorry, Mr. Kao is tied up at the moment.

I'm sorry but he can't come to the phone right now.

He has a visitor right now.

How to take a message: May [Can] I take a message?

Would you like to leave a message?

How to take a message: Would you like me to take a message for you?

Is there any message I can give _____?

Any message for________?

How to take a message: May I have him call you back?

Shall I have him call you back?

Would you like him to call you back?

When is a good time to have him return your call?