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電話
denwa
telephone
電話が鳴った。
The phone rang.
formal
A device used to transmit and receive sound over long distances.
固定電話より携帯電話の方が便利です。
Mobile phones are more convenient than landlines.
Can also refer to the act of calling someone (e.g., 電話する).
Pro Tip
Distinguishing phone types
In Japanese, 電話 alone typically refers to a landline. For mobile phones, use 携帯電話 or the colloquial 携帯.
Word Origin
From 電 (electricity) + 話 (speech), coined during the Meiji era (late 19th century) as a calque of the English 'telephone'.
Usage Notes
電話 can refer to both the device and the act of calling. In modern Japanese, 携帯電話 (keitai denwa) or simply 携帯 (keitai) is more commonly used for mobile phones, while 電話 alone often implies a landline.
Word Breakdown
電
electricity
root話
speech/talk
root和英辞典