phone
Meaning: A device for speaking to someone in another place; to call someone
Phone is short for telephone and refers to the device used for voice communication, especially mobile phones today. As a verb, it means to call someone. British people often say 'ring' instead of 'phone' or 'call.' Common phrases include 'on the phone' (speaking on a call) and 'phone in' (call a workplace).
Examples
- I'll phone you when I arrive at the station. 我到车站时会给你打电话。Te llamaré cuando llegue a la estación.駅に着いたら電話します。역에 도착하면 전화할게요.
- Can I borrow your phone to make a quick call? 我能借用一下你的手机打个电话吗?¿Puedo usar tu teléfono para hacer una llamada rápida?ちょっと電話をかけるので、あなたの電話を借りてもいいですか?잠깐 전화 좀 해야 하는데 휴대폰 빌려도 될까요?
- She was on the phone for over an hour. 她打了一个多小时的电话。Ella estuvo al teléfono durante más de una hora.彼女は1時間以上電話していました。그녀는 한 시간 넘게 통화하고 있었습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
Short for 'telephone', coined in 1876 from Greek 'tele' meaning 'far' + 'phone' meaning 'voice, sound'. The abbreviation 'phone' was already in use by the 1880s.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Story & Trivia
The word 'telephone' comes from Greek 'tele' (far) and 'phone' (voice/sound). Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876. In Britain, the red telephone box became an iconic symbol, though most have now been decommissioned.
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