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How to Learn Basic English (Chinese Edition) | Lesson No.023 | Phones and Messages | 电话与信息

Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0023 · Lesson No.023 · 零基础英语第二十三课 · Pre-A1 → A1

Phones and Messages | 电话与信息

Hello, this is Mei. Can I speak to Anna? Could you ask her to call me back?
你好，我是 Mei。我可以找 Anna 吗？可以请她给我回电话吗？

Phone English removes visual support. You cannot point at the object or read the other person’s face easily. That makes clear names, numbers, spelling, repetition and confirmation especially important.

电话英语少了面对面的视觉帮助，所以姓名、号码、拼写、重复和确认会变得更重要。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.022 · Work and School

The phone-and-message map | 电话与信息路线

  • call / phone
  • answer / hang up
  • This is… / Who’s calling?
  • Can I speak to…?
  • hold on / one moment
  • not available / in a meeting
  • leave a message
  • call back
  • missed call
  • voicemail
  • phone numbers and digit checking
  • spelling names
  • bad connection / can’t hear
  • text / message / chat
  • short written messages
  • confirming time, place and action
  • privacy and safe contact details
  • Mandarin 打电话/回电话/发信息 vs English chunks

1. Call / phone | 打电话

  • I’ll call you later.
  • Can I call you tomorrow?
  • She phoned me yesterday.

call is widely used as a verb. phone can also be a verb in many varieties of English.

2. Answer the phone | 接电话

  • Please answer the phone.
  • He didn’t answer.

3. Hang up | 挂电话

  • Don’t hang up.
  • She hung up. — past form recognition

4. Hello, this is Mei | 电话里自我介绍

  • Hello, this is Mei.
  • Hi, Mei speaking.

On the phone, English commonly uses This is… rather than “I am…” for identification.

5. Who’s calling? | 谁打来的？

  • Who’s calling, please?
  • May I ask who’s calling? — more formal recognition

Be polite when asking for identity, especially in work contexts.

6. Can I speak to…? | 我可以找……吗？

  • Can I speak to Anna?
  • Can I speak to Mr Tan, please?

This is one of the most useful phone frames.

7. Speaking | 就是我

If someone asks for you:

  • Speaking.
  • This is Anna.

8. Hold on | 请稍等

  • Hold on, please.
  • One moment, please.
  • Just a moment.

These ask the caller to wait briefly.

9. She’s not available | 她现在不方便

  • She’s not available right now.
  • He’s in a meeting.
  • She’s away from her desk.

These are polite availability phrases.

10. Can I leave a message? | 可以留言吗？

  • Can I leave a message?
  • Could I leave a message, please?

11. Can I take a message? | 我可以帮你留言吗？

  • Can I take a message?
  • Would you like to leave a message? — recognition

12. Please ask her to call me back | 请她回电话

  • Please ask her to call me back.
  • Could you ask him to call me back?

call back = return a phone call.

13. I’ll call back | 我会再打来

  • I’ll call back later.
  • I’ll call again tomorrow.

14. Missed call | 未接来电

  • I saw your missed call.
  • Sorry, I missed your call.
  • Did you call me?

15. Voicemail | 语音留言

  • leave a voicemail
  • check voicemail
  • I left you a voicemail.

16. Phone number | 电话号码

  • What’s your phone number?
  • Can I have your number?
  • My number is…

For privacy, use fictional numbers in language practice.

17. Say digits clearly | 一个数字一个数字

Phone numbers are often spoken digit by digit.

  • 9-1-2-3 → nine one two three
  • 0 may be said as zero or sometimes “oh” depending on context

18. Did you say…? | 号码确认

  • Did you say 9123 or 9132?
  • Can you say the number again?
  • One digit at a time, please.

19. Repeat the number back | 回读号码

  • So that’s 9123 4567, correct?
  • Let me repeat that.

Read-back is an excellent accuracy strategy.

20. How do you spell your name? | 姓名拼写

  • How do you spell your name?
  • Can you spell that, please?

21. Letter by letter | 一个字母一个字母

  • M-E-I
  • A-N-N-A

Use spelling when audio alone is not enough.

22. Email address | 邮箱地址

  • What’s your email address?
  • Can you send it to my email?

Do not use real private email addresses in classroom drills unless necessary and consented.

23. At / dot | 邮箱读法

Email addresses often use:

  • @ → at
  • . → dot

Example with a fictional address: mei dot example at example dot com.

24. Bad connection | 信号不好

  • The connection is bad.
  • I can’t hear you clearly.
  • You’re breaking up. — recognition phrase

25. Please speak louder | 大声一点

  • Please speak a little louder.
  • I can’t hear you.

26. Please speak more slowly | 慢一点

  • Could you speak more slowly?
  • Please say that again slowly.

27. The call dropped | 电话断了

  • The call dropped.
  • We got disconnected. — recognition phrase

These describe an interrupted call.

28. Text / message | 短信 / 信息

  • Send me a message.
  • I’ll text you.
  • Did you get my message?

text can be a noun or verb.

29. Short message structure | 短信息结构

A useful beginner message often has three parts:

  1. reason
  2. key information
  3. action/confirmation

Example: Hi Anna. The meeting is now at 4:00 in Room 3. Please let me know you got this.

30. I’m running late | 我要迟到了

  • I’m running late.
  • I’ll be about ten minutes late.
  • Sorry, the train is delayed.

This is useful message language for travel, work and social plans.

31. I’m here | 我到了

  • I’m here.
  • I’m outside.
  • I’m at the entrance.

Location message + specific reference point is better than a vague “here” when the place is large.

32. Where are you? | 你在哪里？

  • Where are you?
  • Which entrance are you at?
  • Can you send me the location? — recognition language

33. Please confirm | 请确认

  • Please confirm the time.
  • Can you confirm you received the message?
  • Friday at three, correct?

34. Got it | 收到 / 明白

  • Got it, thanks.
  • Okay, I got it.

Got it is informal and means understood/received.

35. I didn’t get your message | 没收到

  • I didn’t get your message.
  • Can you send it again?

36. Send again / resend | 重发

  • Can you send it again?
  • Can you resend the file?

37. Attachment | 附件

  • attachment
  • I attached the file.
  • I can’t see the attachment.

This is work/school recognition vocabulary.

38. Link | 链接

  • send the link
  • open the link
  • The link isn’t working.

39. Read / unread | 已读 / 未读

  • I read your message.
  • I haven’t read it yet. — later grammar recognition
  • unread message

40. Group chat | 群聊

  • group chat
  • send it to the group
  • check the group message

Be careful with private information in group messages.

41. Wrong person | 发错人

  • Sorry, wrong number.
  • I think you have the wrong person.
  • Sorry, I sent that to the wrong chat.

42. Privacy | 隐私

Phone numbers, addresses, account codes, passwords and verification codes are private. Use fictional details in language practice.

  • Never share a password in a class exercise.
  • Do not post real private contact details publicly.

43. Verification code / OTP | 验证码认识

  • verification code
  • one-time password / OTP

These are privacy-sensitive. This lesson only teaches recognition; never ask learners to share real codes.

44. Mandarin transfer: 打电话 | call, not “hit phone”

  • 给我打电话。 → Call me.
  • 我晚点打给你。 → I’ll call you later.

45. Mandarin transfer: 回电话 | call back

  • 请给我回电话。 → Please call me back.

46. Mandarin transfer: 发信息 | send a message / text

  • 给我发信息。 → Send me a message.
  • 我给你发短信。 → I’ll text you.

47. Mandarin transfer: 我是… on phone | This is…

Chinese may say 我是 Mei. English phone identification commonly says This is Mei.

48. Reading practice A: missed call | 阅读 A

Mei sees a missed call from Anna. She calls back. Anna does not answer, so Mei leaves a voicemail: “Hi Anna, this is Mei. I saw your missed call. Please call me back when you are free.” Anna calls twenty minutes later.

  1. Who called first?
  2. What does Mei see?
  3. Does Anna answer?
  4. What does Mei leave?
  5. What action does Mei request?

49. Reading practice B: changed meeting | 阅读 B

David sends a message to his team: “The meeting has moved from 2:00 to 3:30. Same room: Room 5. Please confirm.” Two colleagues reply “Got it.” One person does not reply, so David calls that person to check.

  1. What changed?
  2. What stayed the same?
  3. What does David ask people to do?
  4. Why does he call one person?

50. Reading practice C: weak connection | 阅读 C

Anna is on a call while travelling. The connection is bad. She says, “Sorry, I can’t hear you clearly. Could you say the number again, one digit at a time?” She repeats the number back and asks, “Is that correct?”

  1. What is the problem?
  2. What does Anna ask for?
  3. How should the number be repeated?
  4. How does Anna confirm accuracy?

51. Writing practice: three useful messages | 写三条信息

Write a fictional message for:

  1. running ten minutes late
  2. changing a meeting time
  3. asking someone to call back

52. Speaking practice: phone opening | 电话开场

A: Hello, this is Mei. Can I speak to Anna?
B: She’s not available right now. Can I take a message?
A: Yes. Please ask her to call me back.

53. Speaking practice: number confirmation | 号码确认

A: My number is 9123 4567.
B: Sorry, can you say that again?
A: 9-1-2-3, 4-5-6-7.
B: 9123 4567, correct?

54. Error clinic | 常见错误诊所

ErrorBetter EnglishWhat broke?
I am Mei speaking? △This is Mei. ✓phone identification
I want find Anna. ✗Can I speak to Anna? ✓phone request
Please return phone. ✗Please call me back. ✓fixed phrase
I no hear you. ✗I can’t hear you. ✓can negative
Send again me. ✗Send it to me again. ✓word order
What your number? ✗What’s your number? ✓be missing

55. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

  • I can speak face-to-face but freeze on phone → opening/identity chunks.
  • I hear names badly → spelling strategy.
  • I confuse numbers → digit read-back.
  • I can receive information but cannot record action → short message structure.
  • I know words but bad connection destroys comprehension → repeat/slower/louder ladder.
  • I send messages but omit time/place/action → message completeness.

56. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

  • 你好，我是 Mei。 → ______
  • 我可以找 Anna 吗？ → ______
  • 请稍等。 → ______
  • 她现在不方便。 → ______
  • 可以留言吗？ → ______
  • 请她给我回电话。 → ______
  • 我没接到你的电话。 → ______
  • 请再说一遍号码。 → ______
  • 我听不清楚。 → ______
  • 请确认收到。 → ______

Suggested answers: Hello, this is Mei. / Can I speak to Anna? / Hold on, please. / She’s not available right now. / Can I leave a message? / Please ask her to call me back. / I missed your call. / Please say the number again. / I can’t hear you clearly. / Please confirm you received it.

57. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 minopen/identify开场身份
2 minnumbers/spelling号码拼写
2 minmessage/call back留言回电
2 minconnection repair连接修复
2 minone phone role-play口语

58. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1phone opening电话开场
Day 2ask for person找人
Day 3leave/take message留言
Day 4numbers/spelling号码拼写
Day 5text messages短信息
Day 6weak-connection repair听力修复
Day 7one-minute phone sequence综合输出

59. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

  1. Translate: 打电话。
  2. Translate: 接电话。
  3. Translate: 挂电话。
  4. Say: 你好，我是 Mei。
  5. Ask to speak to Anna.
  6. Translate: 请稍等。
  7. Say Anna is unavailable.
  8. Ask to leave a message.
  9. Ask if you can take a message.
  10. Ask someone to call back.
  11. Translate: 未接来电。
  12. Translate: 语音留言。
  13. Ask for a phone number.
  14. Ask for spelling.
  15. Ask to repeat a number.
  16. Say the connection is bad.
  17. Say you cannot hear clearly.
  18. Translate: 发信息。
  19. Say you are ten minutes late.
  20. Ask for confirmation.
  21. Translate: 收到，谢谢。
  22. Correct: I want find Anna.
  23. Correct: Please return phone.
  24. Correct: I no hear you.
  25. Correct: What your number?
  26. Give one missed-call message.
  27. Give one changed-time message.
  28. Give one location message.
  29. Give one number-confirmation dialogue.
  30. Explain why real OTPs should never be used in language practice.

Answer key | 答案

1 call/phone; 2 answer the phone; 3 hang up; 4 Hello, this is Mei; 5 Can I speak to Anna?; 6 Hold on, please; 7 Anna isn’t available right now; 8 Can I leave a message?; 9 Can I take a message?; 10 Please ask her to call me back; 11 missed call; 12 voicemail; 13 What’s your phone number?; 14 How do you spell it?; 15 Can you say the number again?; 16 The connection is bad; 17 I can’t hear you clearly; 18 send a message/text; 19 I’ll be ten minutes late; 20 Please confirm / Can you confirm?; 21 Got it, thanks; 22 Can I speak to Anna?; 23 Please call me back; 24 I can’t hear you; 25 What’s your number?; 26–30 answers vary.

60. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Phone practice should remove visual support gradually. Start face-to-face with the script, then sit back-to-back, then use audio only.

Use fictional phone numbers, emails, addresses and account details. Never ask learners to reveal private contact information for a drill.

Train read-back: names, phone numbers, dates and times should be repeated and confirmed when accuracy matters.

Keep messages short. A beginner message should make the reason, key information and expected action easy to find.

61. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

  1. Open a phone call politely.
  2. Identify yourself.
  3. Ask for a person.
  4. Leave a message.
  5. Ask for a callback.
  6. Spell a name.
  7. Confirm a fictional phone number.
  8. Repair a bad connection.
  9. Write one complete short message.
  10. Complete a one-minute phone interaction.

Next: Lesson No.024 | 下一课

Phones and messages help arrange human contact. Next, learn invitations, greetings, small talk, accepting, refusing, thanking, apologising, introductions and leaving a conversation politely.

Lesson No.024 · Invitations and Social English · 邀请与社交英语

Reference floor: British Council A1 Elementary · British Council A1–A2 Vocabulary · Cambridge English Vocabulary in Use: Elementary.