15秒でわかる
- Used for returning missed phone calls or promising a later call.
- It is a separable verb: 'zurück' goes to the end.
- Essential for both casual friends and professional office environments.
意味
This phrase is what you use when you want to tell someone you will return their phone call later or when you are asking them to call you back.
主な例文
3 / 6Busy at the supermarket
Ich bin gerade im Supermarkt, ich rufe dich gleich zurück.
I'm at the supermarket right now, I'll call you right back.
In a professional meeting
Herr Müller ist gerade in einem Termin, er ruft Sie später zurück.
Mr. Müller is currently in a meeting; he will call you back later.
Texting a friend after a missed call
Hab deinen Anruf verpasst, rufe in 5 Minuten zurück!
Missed your call, calling back in 5 minutes!
文化的背景
On the phone, Germans usually answer with their last name. When you call back, it's polite to say 'Hier ist [Last Name], ich rufe wegen Ihres Anrufs zurück.' In Austria, phone etiquette can be slightly more formal with titles. You might hear 'Ich rufe Sie, Herr Magister, gerne zurück.' Swiss German speakers might use 'zrugglüte' in dialect, but in High German, they use 'zurückrufen' just like in Germany. A 'Rückruf' is often expected within 24 hours. Failing to call back is seen as a sign of unreliability or poor organization.
The 'Anchor' Rule
Always imagine the 'zurück' as an anchor. No matter how long your sentence is, that anchor must drop at the very end.
Accusative Only
Never use the Dative. It's 'Ich rufe DICH (Acc) zurück,' never 'Ich rufe DIR zurück.'
15秒でわかる
- Used for returning missed phone calls or promising a later call.
- It is a separable verb: 'zurück' goes to the end.
- Essential for both casual friends and professional office environments.
What It Means
Zurückrufen is the bread and butter of German phone etiquette. It literally means "to call back." You use it when you miss a call. You also use it when you are too busy to talk. It is a simple, functional word. It covers everything from a quick chat with a friend to a formal business follow-up.
How To Use It
This is a separable verb. That is the most important thing to remember. In a standard sentence, the zurück part flies to the very end. You say Ich rufe dich zurück. Do not say Ich zurückrufe dich. That sounds very strange to German ears! If you use a modal verb like kann (can), the whole word stays together at the end: Ich kann dich später zurückrufen.
When To Use It
Use it whenever a phone is involved. You are in a meeting? Whisper Ich rufe dich zurück. You see a missed call from your mom? Tell your friend Ich muss meine Mutter zurückrufen. It is perfect for professional settings too. If a client calls and you need to check a file, tell them you will call back in ten minutes. It shows you are reliable.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use zurückrufen if you are talking about memories. In English, we might "recall" a memory, but in German, that is sich erinnern. Also, do not use it if you are shouting back at someone who yelled at you. That would be zurückschreien. This word is strictly for telecommunications and occasionally for calling a pet or person to come back to your location.
Cultural Background
Germans value reliability and punctuality. If you tell a German Ich rufe dich zurück, they will actually expect a call. It is not just a polite way to end a conversation like it sometimes is in other cultures. If you forget, it might be seen as slightly rude or disorganized. Phone calls are still quite popular in Germany for official business, even with the rise of messenger apps.
Common Variations
The noun form is der Rückruf. You might hear a secretary say Ich notiere einen Rückruf. This means "I will make a note for a call back." You can also use jemanden zurückrufen. The person you are calling is always in the accusative case (dich, mich, ihn, sie).
使い方のコツ
The phrase is universally used across all levels of formality. The only thing that changes is the pronoun (dich vs. Sie) and the sentence structure depending on whether you use a modal verb.
The 'Anchor' Rule
Always imagine the 'zurück' as an anchor. No matter how long your sentence is, that anchor must drop at the very end.
Accusative Only
Never use the Dative. It's 'Ich rufe DICH (Acc) zurück,' never 'Ich rufe DIR zurück.'
Mailbox Etiquette
If you leave a message, always say 'Bitte rufen Sie mich zurück.' It's considered polite to give the other person the 'lead'.
Perfect Tense Vowel
Remember the vowel change: rufen -> gerufen. It stays 'u', unlike the Präteritum 'rief'.
例文
6Ich bin gerade im Supermarkt, ich rufe dich gleich zurück.
I'm at the supermarket right now, I'll call you right back.
A very common everyday excuse for a quick call back.
Herr Müller ist gerade in einem Termin, er ruft Sie später zurück.
Mr. Müller is currently in a meeting; he will call you back later.
Standard professional phrasing for a secretary or colleague.
Hab deinen Anruf verpasst, rufe in 5 Minuten zurück!
Missed your call, calling back in 5 minutes!
Shortened for texting, dropping the 'ich' is common here.
Könnten Sie mich bitte unter dieser Nummer zurückrufen?
Could you please call me back at this number?
A polite, formal request for a return call.
Hier ist es zu laut, ich rufe dich zurück, wenn ich im Wald bin!
It's too loud here, I'll call you back when I'm in the forest!
Using a specific quiet place for comedic effect.
Bitte ruf mich zurück, ich muss wirklich dringend mit dir reden.
Please call me back; I really need to talk to you urgently.
The use of 'bitte' and 'dringend' adds emotional weight.
自分をテスト
Fill in the correct form of 'zurückrufen' in the present tense.
Ich ___ dich in zehn Minuten ___.
In a main clause, the verb 'rufen' is conjugated in the second position and the prefix 'zurück' goes to the end.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct past tense sentence:
'Zurückrufen' uses 'haben' as an auxiliary and 'gerufen' as the past participle.
Complete the office dialogue.
A: 'Ist Herr Schmidt da?' B: 'Nein, er ist zu Tisch. Soll er Sie ___?'
Since the caller is asking for someone who is away, the standard response is to offer a callback.
Match the phrase to the situation.
A company finds a bug in their software and needs users to return to an old version.
This is the 'recall' sense of the verb.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
Zurückrufen vs. Widerrufen
練習問題バンク
4 問題Ich ___ dich in zehn Minuten ___.
In a main clause, the verb 'rufen' is conjugated in the second position and the prefix 'zurück' goes to the end.
Select the correct past tense sentence:
'Zurückrufen' uses 'haben' as an auxiliary and 'gerufen' as the past participle.
A: 'Ist Herr Schmidt da?' B: 'Nein, er ist zu Tisch. Soll er Sie ___?'
Since the caller is asking for someone who is away, the standard response is to offer a callback.
A company finds a bug in their software and needs users to return to an old version.
This is the 'recall' sense of the verb.
🎉 スコア： /4
よくある質問
14 問Technically no, that would be 'zurückschreiben' or 'antworten'. However, you can text someone 'Ich rufe dich zurück' to mean you will call them later.
It is neutral. It depends entirely on whether you use 'Sie' or 'du' with it.
'Zurückrufen' is specifically returning a call. 'Wieder anrufen' just means calling again, regardless of who called last.
You say 'Ich warte auf einen Rückruf.'
Yes, 'den Hund zurückrufen' is perfectly correct and common.
It's a poetic way to say 'to bring someone back to life' or 'to revive someone'.
Yes, for all separable verbs like this: zurück-ge-rufen.
Because the company is 'calling back' the physical product to the workshop.
No, that's redundant. Use either 'Ich rufe dich zurück' or 'Ich rufe dich wieder an'.
Say 'Rufen Sie mich bitte so bald wie möglich zurück.'
It always takes 'haben'.
Not really a slang word, but 'sich melden' is the casual alternative.
Yes, 'sich etwas ins Gedächtnis zurückrufen' is the standard idiom for recalling something.
Yes, {der|m} Rückruf.
関連フレーズ
anrufen
similarTo call someone on the phone.
abheben
contrastTo pick up the phone.
auflegen
contrastTo hang up.
sich zurückmelden
similarTo get back to someone.
widerrufen
contrastTo revoke or cancel.
jemanden zurückpfeifen
specialized formTo rein someone in.
