接听

• Pinyin: jiē tīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 接 = 扌(hand) + 妾 — to receive; 听 = 口 (mouth) + 斤 — to listen

Meaning

To answer (a phone call). The act of picking up and responding to an incoming call.

Used specifically for telephone calls, both landline and mobile. More formal than simply saying 接电话. Often used in professional contexts like customer service, call centers, or office settings where answering calls is part of job duties.

Examples

1. 他正在开会，无法接听您的电话。 He is in a meeting and cannot answer your call.
2. 客服人员必须在三声铃响内接听来电。 Customer service staff must answer incoming calls within three rings.
3. 她把手机调成静音，错过了好几个重要来电。 She put her phone on silent and missed several important calls.

Usage Guide

Context: work, communication, service

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 请接听电话。(Please answer the phone.)
• 他没有接听我的来电。(He didn't answer my call.)

Don't Say

• 用'接听'描述面对面的对话 (Don't use 接听 for face-to-face conversation — it's specifically for phone calls)

Origin & History

Composed of 接 (to receive; to answer) + 听 (to listen). Together they describe the action of receiving and listening to a phone call.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal