着信

• Reading: ちゃくしん
• Romaji: chakushin
• Kanji breakdown: 着 (chaku/ki) — arrive, reach; 信 (shin) — message, trust, communication
• Pronunciation: /t͡ɕa.kɯ.ɕiɴ/

Meaning

Incoming call; received message. The arrival of a phone call, email, or other electronic notification.

A noun and suru-verb essential for modern daily life. Appears on every mobile phone screen in Japan. Key collocations include 着信履歴 (chakushin rireki, call history/missed calls), 着信音 (chakushinon, ringtone), and 着信拒否 (chakushin kyohi, call blocking). The opposite is 発信 (hasshin, outgoing call/transmission).

Examples

1. 会議中に知らない番号から着信があった。 I received a call from an unknown number during the meeting.
2. 着信履歴を確認したら母からの電話だった。 When I checked the call history, it turned out to be a call from my mom.
3. マナーモードにしていたので着信に気づかなかった。 My phone was on silent mode, so I missed the incoming call.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, communication, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 着 (chaku, arrive) + 信 (shin, message/communication). Literally 'arriving message' — communication reaching the recipient.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal