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Phrases to leave or take a voicemail in Chinese visualisation

Phrases to leave or take a voicemail in Chinese

Essential Phrases for Phone Conversations in Chinese: Communicate Effectively: Phrases to leave or take a voicemail in Chinese
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Here are some useful phrases to leave or take a voicemail in Chinese.

Chinese voicemail language is usually short, polite, and practical. In many real calls, the goal is not a long message but three things: identify the caller, state the reason for calling, and give a callback number clearly and slowly.

Leaving a Voicemail

  • 请留言告知您的姓名和电话号码，我们将尽快给您回电。

    • Pinyin: Qǐng liú yán gào zhī nín de xìng míng hé diàn huà hào mǎ, wǒ men jiāng jìn kuài gěi nín huí diàn.
    • English: Please leave a message with your name and phone number and we will return your call as soon as possible. 2

  • 我可以留言吗？

    • Pinyin: Wǒ kě yǐ liú yán ma?
    • English: Can I leave a message? 3

  • 可以麻烦你告诉他给这个号码回个电话吗？

    • Pinyin: Kě yǐ má fán nǐ gào sù tā gěi zhè gè hào mǎ huí gè diàn huà ma?
    • English: Can you tell him to call me back at this number? 3

A natural voicemail in Chinese usually sounds more effective when it is simple and specific. A common pattern is: greeting, name, reason for calling, callback number, and a short closing. For example, one brief message might include a missed appointment, a work callback, or a request to discuss a delivery.

If the message is for a formal or unfamiliar contact, 您 sounds more polite than 你. In everyday settings, 你 is common among friends, classmates, and people of similar age. In workplace voicemail, 请留言 and 我们将尽快给您回电 sound professional and standard.

Taking a Voicemail / Prompting to Leave a Message

  • 抱歉，您拨打的电话未能接通，请留言。

    • Pinyin: Bào qiàn, nín bō dǎ de diàn huà wèi néng jiē tōng, qǐng liú yán.
    • English: Sorry, the number you dialed is not available, please leave a message. (General voicemail prompt)

  • 请在滴声后留言。

    • Pinyin: Qǐng zài dī shēng hòu liú yán.
    • English: Please leave a message after the tone. 1

Voicemail prompts in Chinese are often heard in the same short, formulaic style across phone systems. The word 滴声 refers to the beep or tone, and 留言 means “to leave a message.” The phrase 请在滴声后留言 is especially useful because it is short, clear, and easy to recognize in real speech.

A longer automated prompt may use 您拨打的电话未能接通, which literally means “the number you dialed could not be connected.” This wording is more formal and common in recorded phone messages than in casual conversation.

Ending a Voicemail or Phone Call

  • 谢谢你的致电，再见。

    • Pinyin: Xiè xiè nǐ de zhì diàn, zài jiàn.
    • English: Thank you for calling, goodbye. 3

  • 那我挂电话了，拜拜。

    • Pinyin: Nà wǒ guà diàn huà le, bái bái.
    • English: Then I will hang up, bye-bye. 3

These closing phrases are useful when ending a live call or a recorded voicemail. 致电 is a formal word for “to call,” so 谢谢你的致电 sounds more polished than a very casual “thanks for calling.” In daily speech, 挂电话 simply means “hang up,” and 拜拜 is a relaxed, friendly goodbye.

Useful voicemail wording by situation

If the goal is to ask for a callback

  • 请您方便的时候给我回个电话。

    • Pinyin: Qǐng nín fāng biàn de shí hòu gěi wǒ huí gè diàn huà.
    • English: Please call me back when it is convenient.

  • 麻烦您收到留言后回电。

    • Pinyin: Má fán nín shōu dào liú yán hòu huí diàn.
    • English: Please call back after receiving this message.

If the goal is to identify yourself clearly

  • 我是[名字]。

    • Pinyin: Wǒ shì [míng zì].
    • English: This is [name].

  • 这是[名字]给您的留言。

    • Pinyin: Zhè shì [míng zì] gěi nín de liú yán.
    • English: This is a message from [name].

If the goal is to leave a concise reason

  • 我是想跟您确认一下明天的时间。

    • Pinyin: Wǒ shì xiǎng gēn nín què rèn yí xià míng tiān de shí jiān.
    • English: I’m calling to confirm tomorrow’s time.

  • 我打电话是关于那份文件。

    • Pinyin: Wǒ dǎ diàn huà shì guān yú nà fèn wén jiàn.
    • English: I’m calling about that document.

Pronunciation notes that matter in voicemail

Chinese voicemail should sound calm and measured, especially because names and numbers can be hard to catch over poor reception. The verb 回电 is pronounced huí diàn and means “to return a call.” The phrase 留个电话 is also common in conversation and means “leave a phone number,” though 电话号码 is clearer in formal messages.

Numbers are often the hardest part of a voicemail. Chinese speakers usually separate digits slowly and may repeat the number once at the end. Clear rhythm matters more than speed, and active spoken practice helps here because listening and speaking memory improve when numbers and set phrases are rehearsed aloud.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Speaking too fast. A voicemail with a name and number should be slower than ordinary conversation.
  • Using only English-style phrasing. Chinese voicemail tends to be shorter and more formulaic.
  • Forgetting the polite form. 您 is safer than 你 in unfamiliar or formal contexts.
  • Leaving out the callback number. In many situations, the number is the most important part of the message.

Quick reference

  • 请留言。 — Please leave a message.
  • 请在滴声后留言。 — Please leave a message after the tone.
  • 我可以留言吗？ — Can I leave a message?
  • 请您方便的时候给我回个电话。 — Please call me back when it is convenient.
  • 谢谢你的致电，再见。 — Thank you for calling, goodbye.

These phrases cover the most common voicemail situations in Mandarin Chinese: leaving a message, prompting someone to leave one, and ending the call politely.

References