Hello, I’m Kodak.
もしもし (moshi moshi) is one of the first Japanese expressions many learners hear in anime, movies, or telephone conversations.
That is the most important point to understand:
もしもし is mainly “hello” on the phone—not a general face-to-face greeting.
Quick answer
もしもし (moshi moshi) is an interjection used to:
① begin a personal telephone conversation
② check whether the other person can still hear you
③ call for someone’s attention, similar to “hello?” or “excuse me”
It comes from the older call もうしもうし (mōshi mōshi), connected to 申す (mōsu), a humble verb meaning “to say” or “to speak.”
In this article, we will answer the questions beginners most often have:
・Why do Japanese people say it twice?
・Can both the caller and receiver say it?
・Is it polite?
・Can you use it in business?
・Can you say it face to face?
・Does it have anything to do with foxes or ghosts?
・How is it used in anime and real conversations?
What Does Moshi Moshi Mean in Japanese?
Hiragana: もしもし
Romaji: moshi moshi
Part of speech: interjection
Basic meaning: hello? / excuse me / are you there?
In modern Japanese, もしもし is most strongly associated with telephone calls.
もしもし、田中です。
Moshi moshi, Tanaka desu.
Hello, this is Tanaka.
もしもし、聞こえますか？
Moshi moshi, kikoemasu ka?
Hello? Can you hear me?
Only in certain situations.
English hello works both on the phone and when meeting someone. Japanese もしもし normally works on the phone or when trying to get someone’s attention.
もしもし。
Hello?
⇒ Natural in a personal callMeeting someone in person
こんにちは。
Hello / Good afternoon.
⇒ Use a greeting such as こんにちは, not もしもし
Why Do Japanese Say Moshi Moshi?
The word もしもし did not originally begin as a telephone word.
Japanese dictionaries trace it to the older expression もうしもうし (mōshi mōshi). This is connected to 申す (mōsu), a humble verb meaning “to say” or “to speak.”
How the form developed
申す (mōsu)
to say / to speak humbly
↓
もうし、もうし (mōshi, mōshi)
a repeated call used to address someone
↓
もしもし (moshi moshi)
the shortened modern form
That can help you remember the origin, but it is not how modern speakers analyze the phrase in everyday conversation.
Today, もしもし functions as one complete interjection, much like English “hello?”
The expression existed long before ordinary telephone use. A dictionary example of もしもし as a way of calling to someone dates to 1591, while an early recorded example connected with opening a telephone conversation dates to 1903.
Why Is Moshi Said Twice?
The direct historical source form is already repeated: もうしもうし. In modern Japanese, the two-part form もしもし is fixed as one expression.
Not as the normal telephone greeting. Learn もしもし as a complete set expression.
A single もし can appear in other Japanese expressions and may mean something like “if”, so it is not simply the casual short form of telephone もしもし.
Hello? / Are you there?× もし？
Not the standard telephone greeting
Functionally, the repetition makes the call clear and easy to recognize. However, it is best not to invent a precise historical reason that is not stated in reliable dictionaries. What we can say confidently is that the repeated form existed before it became a telephone greeting.
How to Pronounce Moshi Moshi
Romaji: moshi moshi
Mora: も・し・も・し (4 morae)
Approximate learner guide: moh-shee moh-shee
Keep all four Japanese beats relatively even:
し — shi
も — mo
し — shi
Try not to use heavy English-style stress. Japanese rhythm is based more on even mora timing.
Say the four parts smoothly: mo-shi-mo-shi.
How Is Moshi Moshi Written in Japanese?
Katakana for stylistic emphasis: モシモシ
Etymological connection: 申し／申す
Normal modern kanji spelling: none
In ordinary modern writing, use もしもし in hiragana.
When to Use Moshi Moshi
1. When Answering a Personal Phone Call
You can say もしもし when answering a call from a friend, family member, or other personal contact.
Hello?B: あ、もしもし。今、大丈夫？
Oh, hi. Is now a good time?
No. Both the receiver and the caller can use it.
The receiver may say もしもし？ when answering, and the caller may respond あ、もしもし before identifying themselves.
2. When Calling a Friend or Family Member
Hello?B: あ、もしもし。私だけど、今話せる？
Hi, it’s me. Can you talk now?
A: うん、大丈夫だよ。
Yeah, it’s fine.
3. When the Connection Is Bad
もしもし？ is also useful when the line becomes silent or the sound cuts out.
もしもし？ 聞こえる？
Moshi moshi? Kikoeru?
Hello? Can you hear me?
もしもし、まだそこにいますか？
Moshi moshi, mada soko ni imasu ka?
Hello? Are you still there?
4. When Calling Out to Someone in Person
Dictionaries also recognize もしもし as a way to call to someone or get their attention.
もしもし、切符を落としましたよ。
Moshi moshi, kippu o otoshimashita yo.
Excuse me, you dropped your ticket.
Usually, すみません is the safer and more versatile choice.
Face-to-face もしもし can sound like “Hello? Hey, you there?” It is possible, but it is not the standard polite phrase for asking a question or requesting help.
Excuse me, where is the station?
⇒ Natural and politeもしもし、駅はどこですか？
Hello, where is the station?
⇒ Understandable, but less natural as a normal polite attention-getter
When You Should Not Use Moshi Moshi
1. Do Not Use It as a General Face-to-Face Greeting
こんにちは。
Hello / Good afternoon.Starting a personal phone call:
もしもし。
Hello?
People will probably understand that you are trying to get someone’s attention, but it will not sound like an ordinary greeting.
Use すみません when calling a staff member and こんにちは when greeting someone.
2. Avoid It as the Standard Opening of a Business Call
In Japanese business telephone etiquette, employees generally identify the company, department, or themselves instead of opening with casual もしもし.
はい、ABC株式会社でございます。
Hello, ABC Corporation speaking.Calling a business:
お世話になっております。XYZ株式会社の田中と申します。
Thank you for your continued support. This is Tanaka from XYZ Corporation.
It is not grammatically wrong, and the other person will understand you. The issue is register: it sounds casual and does not identify who is speaking.
In business, give your company and name promptly.
3. Do Not Treat It as a Text-Message Greeting
もしもし is associated with spoken communication. In a normal text message, use a greeting that suits the relationship and time of day.
こんにちは！
Hi!Friendly casual opening:
お疲れ！
Hey / Good work!
Polite message:
お世話になっております。
Thank you for your continued support.
Is Moshi Moshi Polite?
もしもし is not rude by itself. It is a conventional, neutral-to-casual telephone expression.
Calling a close friend: natural
Checking a bad connection: natural
Formal company call: usually replaced by identification and a business greeting
Calling to a stranger face to face: possible, but すみません is usually more polite
A word’s historical origin and its modern social register are not always the same.
Modern business calls prioritize clear identification—company name, department, and speaker name—rather than the personal-call opener もしもし.
Natural Telephone Conversations with Moshi Moshi
Conversation 1: Calling a Friend
Hello?B: あ、もしもし。健太だけど、今何してる？
Oh, hi. It’s Kenta. What are you doing now?
A: 家にいるよ。どうしたの？
I’m at home. What’s up?
B: 明日の予定を確認したくて。
I wanted to check tomorrow’s plans.
Conversation 2: You Cannot Hear the Other Person
Hello? Hello?B: ごめん、電波が悪いみたい。
Sorry, the signal seems bad.
A: 今は聞こえる？
Can you hear me now?
B: うん、聞こえるよ。
Yeah, I can hear you.
Conversation 3: Calling Someone’s Home
Hello, this is Yamada. Is Aya there?B: はい、少々お待ちください。
Yes, please wait a moment.
Conversation 4: Calling a Company
Hello, Sakura Travel speaking.Caller: お世話になっております。ABC商事のスミスと申します。
Thank you for your continued support. This is Smith from ABC Trading.
Company: いつもお世話になっております。
Thank you as always.
Moshi Moshi vs Konnichiwa vs Sumimasen vs Hai
Hello? / Are you there?
⇒ Mainly telephone calls and attention-checkingこんにちは (konnichiwa)
Hello / Good afternoon
⇒ Face-to-face daytime greeting
すみません (sumimasen)
Excuse me / Sorry / Thank you
⇒ Politely getting someone’s attention
はい (hai)
Yes / Hello, speaking
⇒ Often used when answering a business phone, followed by a name or company
Yes. People may answer with はい, their name, or another natural response depending on who is calling.
もしもし is common, but it is not a mandatory magic word that every Japanese caller always uses.
Moshi Moshi in Anime and Manga
In anime and manga, もしもし immediately tells the audience that a character is speaking on the phone or trying to get another character’s attention.
Hello? It’s me.もしもし、聞いてる？
Hello? Are you listening?
もしもーし！
Hellooo? / Anybody home?
⇒ The long vowel adds emotion, impatience, teasing, or emphasis.
あの、もしもし……。
Um, excuse me…
⇒ A hesitant attempt to get someone’s attention
In that situation it means something like:
“Hello? Are you listening?”
“Earth to you!”
“Anybody home?”
It is not a normal greeting. The speaker is trying to pull the other person’s attention back.
Does Moshi Moshi Prove You Are Not a Fox or Ghost?
You may see an internet story claiming that supernatural beings—especially fox spirits or ghosts—cannot say the same word twice, so people say もしもし to prove that they are human.
It is a fun folklore-style story, but it should not be presented as the established origin.
Authoritative Japanese dictionaries trace もしもし to もうしもうし, connected with 申す. The fox-or-ghost explanation is better treated as a popular myth or later cultural story.
申す → もうしもうし → もしもしPopular story:
Saying the word twice proves the caller is human
Conclusion:
Interesting folklore, but not the dictionary-supported origin
Common Beginner Mistakes with Moshi Moshi
Mistake 1: Using It Every Time You Mean “Hello”
もしもし！○ Meeting a friend:
こんにちは！ / おはよう！ / やあ！
○ Calling a friend:
もしもし！
Mistake 2: Using It as the First Line of Every Business Call
In business, identify yourself or your organization promptly.
Hello.○ はい、ABC株式会社でございます。
Hello, ABC Corporation speaking.
○ お世話になっております。田中と申します。
Thank you for your continued support. My name is Tanaka.
Mistake 3: Writing It with Kanji
Stylized: モシモシ
Not normal modern spelling: 申し申し
Mistake 4: Confusing もしもし with もし
もし commonly appears in conditional expressions meaning “if.” It is not the standard shortened telephone greeting.
もし雨が降ったら、家にいます。
Moshi ame ga futtara, ie ni imasu.
If it rains, I will stay home.
Mistake 5: Assuming Every Japanese Person Always Says It
People may answer a phone with はい, their name, their company name, or another phrase appropriate to the situation. もしもし is common, not compulsory.
More Natural Example Sentences
もしもし、今どこにいるの？
Moshi moshi, ima doko ni iru no?
Hello, where are you now?
あ、もしもし。昨日はありがとう。
A, moshi moshi. Kinō wa arigatō.
Oh, hi. Thanks for yesterday.
もしもし、佐藤さんのお電話ですか？
Moshi moshi, Satō-san no odenwa desu ka?
Hello, is this Mr./Ms. Sato’s phone?
もしもし、山本さんはいらっしゃいますか？
Moshi moshi, Yamamoto-san wa irasshaimasu ka?
Hello, is Mr./Ms. Yamamoto there?
もしもし？ 声が聞こえないよ。
Moshi moshi? Koe ga kikoenai yo.
Hello? I can’t hear you.
もしもし、電話が切れたみたい。
Moshi moshi, denwa ga kireta mitai.
Hello? It seems the call was disconnected.
もしもし、さっき電話をくれた？
Moshi moshi, sakki denwa o kureta?
Hi, did you call me earlier?
もしもし、予約について聞きたいのですが。
Moshi moshi, yoyaku ni tsuite kikitai no desu ga.
Hello, I would like to ask about a reservation.
もしもーし、話を聞いてる？
Moshimōshi, hanashi o kiiteru?
Hellooo? Are you listening to me?
もしもし、落とし物ですよ。
Moshi moshi, otoshimono desu yo.
Excuse me, you dropped something.
FAQ About Moshi Moshi
What does moshi moshi mean in English?
It most often means “hello?” on the phone. It can also mean “excuse me,” “are you there?” or “are you listening?” when calling for someone’s attention.
Why do Japanese people say moshi moshi?
The expression comes from the older call もうしもうし, connected to 申す, a humble verb meaning “to say” or “to speak.” A pre-existing attention-getting expression later became strongly associated with telephone conversations.
Why do Japanese say moshi twice?
The repeated form already existed in the older expression もうしもうし. Modern speakers treat もしもし as one fixed interjection. A single もし is not the normal telephone greeting.
Can I say moshi moshi when meeting someone?
Not as an ordinary greeting. Use こんにちは, おはよう, or another suitable greeting. In person, もしもし is used only to call for attention, and すみません is often more polite.
Can both people on a phone call say moshi moshi?
Yes. The receiver can say it when answering, and the caller can say it before identifying themselves. Either person may also use it to check a poor connection.
Is moshi moshi rude?
No, it is not inherently rude. It is natural in personal calls. In formal business calls, however, speakers usually identify their company and name instead.
Can I use moshi moshi in business?
You will be understood, but it is generally not the preferred opening. A company commonly answers with はい、○○株式会社でございます, while a caller introduces their company and name.
Is moshi moshi written in kanji?
Modern Japanese normally writes it in hiragana as もしもし. The connection to 申す explains its origin, but 申し申し is not the standard modern spelling.
What is the difference between moshi moshi and konnichiwa?
もしもし is primarily a telephone or attention-checking expression. こんにちは is a daytime greeting used when meeting or addressing someone face to face.
What does moshimōshi mean in anime?
An elongated もしもーし often means “Hellooo?” or “Are you listening?” It may sound playful, impatient, sarcastic, or concerned depending on the scene.
Is the fox or ghost story about moshi moshi true?
It is a popular folklore-style explanation, but authoritative dictionary accounts trace the word to もうしもうし and 申す. It should not be treated as the established etymology.
Summary: Moshi Moshi Meaning and Usage
もしもし means “hello?” on the phone and can also call for or check someone’s attention.● Origin
It developed from もうしもうし, connected with the humble verb 申す, “to say” or “to speak.”
● Normal spelling
もしもし
● Main use
Personal telephone calls and checking whether the other person can hear you.
● Face-to-face use
Possible as an attention-getter, but not as a normal greeting. すみません is often safer.
● Business use
Usually replaced by a company name, personal introduction, or formal telephone greeting.
● Important difference
もしもし = telephone “hello?”
こんにちは = face-to-face “hello”
References
- Kotobank: もしもし — dictionary meanings, development from もうしもうし, and historical examples.
- Cambridge Japanese–English Dictionary: もしもし — telephone and attention-getting translations.
- National Diet Library Collaborative Reference Database: origin of telephone もしもし — library reference summary and cited etymology resources.
- Japan Post Bank: telephone etiquette for new professionals — recommended business telephone opening and guidance not to begin with もしもし.
- The Japan Foundation: Japanese telephone-conversation learning materials.