A smooth transfer starts by identifying the caller and checking whether the requested colleague is available.
The idea
Use お伺いしてもよろしいでしょうか to politely ask for a name. 少々お待ちください asks the caller to hold; おつなぎいたします announces that you will connect them.
Examples
- お電話ありがとうございます。青木商事でございます。Thank you for calling. This is Aoki Trading.
- 田中はただいま席を外しております。Tanaka is away from their desk at the moment.
- お名前をお伺いしてもよろしいでしょうか。May I ask your name?
- 少々、お待ちください。Please hold for a moment.
- 担当の者におつなぎいたします。I will put you through to the person in charge.
- 戻りましたら、こちらからお電話いたします。When Tanaka returns, we will call you back.
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Watch out
When speaking to an outside caller, refer to your own colleague as 田中, without さん. If the person is away, do not promise an immediate transfer; offer a callback instead.
Try it yourself
お名前をお伺いしても＿でしょうか。（よろしい／いない）
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よろしい
よろしい makes the question a polite request for permission.
少々お待ち＿。（ください／でした）
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ください
ください completes the polite request to wait.
担当の者におつなぎ＿。（いたします／いらっしゃいます）
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いたします
いたします humbly describes your own action of connecting the caller.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
お名前をお伺いしても＿でしょうか。（よろしい／いない）
少々お待ち＿。（ください／でした）
担当の者におつなぎ＿。（いたします／いらっしゃいます）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Answer a call for Tanaka. Ask the caller’s name, request a short wait and either transfer the call or arrange a callback.