打电话

• Pinyin: dǎ diàn huà
• Hanzi breakdown: 打 (make, do) + 电 (electric) + 话 (speech) — to make an electric speech, i.e. a phone call

Meaning

To make a phone call; to call someone on the phone.

A verb-object compound that is the standard way to say 'make a phone call'. Can be separated by other elements: 打个电话 (make a call), 打了一个电话 (made a call). Use 给 to indicate the recipient: 给妈妈打电话 (call Mom). Despite the rise of messaging, this phrase is still used daily.

Examples

1. 我给妈妈打电话了。 I called Mom.
2. 你能打个电话给他吗？ Can you give him a call?
3. 她在打电话。 She's on the phone.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我待会儿给你打电话。(I'll call you later.)
• 谁打的电话？(Who called?)

Don't Say

• 打电话你 to mean 'call you' (Use 给你打电话 — the recipient needs 给 before their name)

Origin & History

Compound of 打 (to make, to do) + 电话 (telephone). The verb 打 is used in its extended sense of 'to make' or 'to do', similar to English 'make a call'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal