A2 Collocation Neutro

전화를 받다.

Jeonhwareul batda.

To answer the phone.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential phrase for picking up a call and starting a conversation in Korean.

  • Means: To answer or take an incoming phone call.
  • Used in: Daily life, office settings, and emergency situations.
  • Don't confuse: Never use '대답하다' (to answer a question) for phones.
📱 + 📥 = 🗣️

Explanation at your level:

This is a very basic phrase. '전화' means phone and '받다' means to get or receive. When your phone rings, you '받다' it. You can say '전화 받아요' (I answer the phone). It is very important for daily life.
At this level, you should know how to use the phrase in different tenses. For example, '전화를 받았어요' (I answered the phone) or '전화를 받을 거예요' (I will answer the phone). You also learn to drop the particle '를' in casual talk: '전화 받아'.
Intermediate learners use this phrase with more complex grammar. You can explain reasons: '회의 중이라서 전화를 못 받았어요' (I couldn't answer because I was in a meeting). You also start using honorifics like '받으시다' when talking about your boss or parents.
Upper-intermediate learners understand the nuance between '전화를 안 받다' (choosing not to answer) and '전화를 못 받다' (being unable to answer). You also become familiar with business expressions like '전화를 대신 받다' (taking a call for someone else) and proper office etiquette.
Advanced learners analyze the collocation within various registers. You understand idiomatic uses and social implications, such as the 'Yeoboseyo' etymology and the subtle shift in tone when a speaker switches from '받다' to more formal '수신하다' in technical or extremely formal contexts.
At this level of mastery, you recognize the phrase's role in Korean pragmatics. You understand how '전화를 받다' functions in literature and media to signal power dynamics or emotional distance, and you can navigate complex telephonic negotiations with native-level fluency and cultural sensitivity.

Significado

The act of taking an incoming telephone call.

🌍

Contexto cultural

It is common to see people bowing while talking on the phone if the caller is a superior. This physical habit persists even without visual contact. Talking loudly on the phone in subways or buses is considered very rude. Most people switch to 'manner mode' and answer with a whisper or send a text instead. When answering a business call, you should state your department and name immediately after 'Yeoboseyo' or instead of it. With the rise of KakaoTalk, many young Koreans prefer texting over 'receiving a call', leading to a phenomenon called 'phone phobia'.

💡

Drop the '를'

In 90% of spoken Korean, people just say '전화 받아' or '전화 받았어'. It sounds much more natural.

⚠️

Honorifics Matter

If you are talking about your boss or a teacher answering the phone, always use '받으시다'.

Significado

The act of taking an incoming telephone call.

💡

Drop the '를'

In 90% of spoken Korean, people just say '전화 받아' or '전화 받았어'. It sounds much more natural.

⚠️

Honorifics Matter

If you are talking about your boss or a teacher answering the phone, always use '받으시다'.

🎯

The 'Yeoboseyo' Rule

Only say 'Yeoboseyo' when you are the one receiving the call or when the line is breaking up. Don't use it to start a call you made unless you're checking if they can hear you.

💬

Manner Mode

In Korea, 'silent mode' is called 'manner mode' ({매너모드}). It's expected in all public indoor spaces.

Teste-se

Fill in the blank with the correct form of '받다'.

지금 바빠서 전화를 ____ 없어요.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 받을 수

The phrase '-(으)ㄹ 수 없다' means 'cannot'. So '받을 수 없어요' means 'cannot answer'.

Which sentence is the most natural when asking someone to answer the phone?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 전화를 받으세요.

'받다' is the only correct verb for answering a phone call.

Complete the dialogue.

가: 왜 어제 제 전화를 안 ____? 나: 미안해요, 잠을 자고 있었어요.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 받았어요

The question is about a past event (yesterday), so the past tense '받았어요' is required.

Match the situation to the correct Korean phrase.

Situation: You are answering the phone for your boss.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 전화를 대신 받다

'대신 받다' means to answer on behalf of someone else.

🎉 Pontuação: /4

Recursos visuais

Answering: Korean vs English

Korean
전화를 받다 Receive the call
English
Answer the phone Respond to the phone

Perguntas frequentes

12 perguntas

Yes, it is very common to say '핸드폰(을) 받다' since most calls are on mobile phones now.

'안 받다' means you chose not to answer. '못 받다' means you were unable to answer (e.g., you were busy).

You can say '제가 받을게요' (I will receive it).

It is neutral. It's the standard way to answer, but in very formal business, identifying yourself is more polite.

No, for texts, we usually use '문자를 받다' or '문자가 오다'.

It's slang for intentionally ignoring a call. It's quite rude.

You say '전화가 와요' or '벨이 울려요'.

The honorific version is '받으시다'. There isn't a separate humble verb for this specific action.

You can say '여보세요? 아무도 안 계세요?'

It's very formal and usually used for 'responding' in a technical or official sense, not picking up a personal call.

You can say '다른 전화를 받고 있어요'.

It literally means 'call during absence', or a missed call.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

전화를 걸다

contrast

To make a call

🔗

전화를 끊다

builds on

To hang up

🔗

부재중 전화

similar

Missed call

🔗

통화 중이다

similar

To be on the phone

🔗

전화를 돌리다

specialized form

To transfer a call

Onde usar

🏢

At the Office

Colleague: 김 대리님, 전화 좀 받으세요. 계속 울려요.

Me: 아, 네! 지금 바로 받겠습니다.

formal
☕

With Friends

Friend: 왜 아까 전화 안 받았어?

Me: 미안, 샤워하느라 못 받았어.

informal
🚗

Driving

Passenger: 전화 오는데 안 받아요?

Driver: 운전 중이라 위험해서 못 받아요.

neutral
❓

Wrong Number

Stranger: 여보세요, 거기 철수네 집이죠?

Me: 전화 잘못 거셨어요. 저는 그냥 전화를 받은 사람이에요.

neutral
👥

In a Meeting

Boss: 회의 중에는 전화를 받지 마세요.

Employee: 죄송합니다. 진동으로 해놓겠습니다.

formal
🛵

Delivery

Delivery Man: 도착했는데 전화를 안 받으셔서 문 앞에 두고 갑니다.

Me: 아, 지금 봤어요. 전화를 못 받아서 죄송합니다.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Batda' (받다) as 'Bat' (like a baseball bat) catching a ball. You 'catch' the call with your 'Bat'.

Visual Association

Imagine a person holding a glowing electric ball (the call) with both hands, carefully receiving it from the air.

Rhyme

Ring ring ring, 전화가 와요. Pick it up, 전화를 받아요.

Story

You are waiting for a delivery. Your phone rings. You quickly 'receive' (받다) the 'electric talk' (전화) to make sure your fried chicken arrives at the right door.

Word Web

전화기벨소리여보세요통화끊다걸다부재중메시지

Desafio

Set your phone language to Korean and try to say '전화 받아요' every time you answer a call today.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Contestar el teléfono

Spanish uses the same verb for answering questions and phones.

French partial

Répondre au téléphone / Décrocher

French has a specific verb for the physical action of picking up.

German low

Ans Telefon gehen

German emphasizes the movement toward the device.

Japanese low

電話に出る (Denwa ni deru)

Japanese views it as 'appearing' in the conversation.

Arabic moderate

الرد على الهاتف (al-radd 'ala al-hatif)

Arabic uses a noun-based structure often.

Chinese high

接电话 (Jiē diànhuà)

The conceptual logic is almost identical.

Korean (Dialects) high

전화 받으라 (Gyeongsang dialect)

Intonation and imperative endings vary by region.

Portuguese moderate

Atender o telefone

Portuguese views it as 'attending' to the caller.

Easily Confused

전화를 받다. vs 전화가 오다

Learners mix up the subject and object.

Use '가' when the phone is ringing (passive to you), use '를 받다' when you take action.

전화를 받다. vs 전화를 대답하다

Direct translation from English 'answer'.

Remember: You 'receive' (받다) a call, you 'answer' (대답하다) a question.

Perguntas frequentes (12)

Yes, it is very common to say '핸드폰(을) 받다' since most calls are on mobile phones now.

'안 받다' means you chose not to answer. '못 받다' means you were unable to answer (e.g., you were busy).

You can say '제가 받을게요' (I will receive it).

It is neutral. It's the standard way to answer, but in very formal business, identifying yourself is more polite.

No, for texts, we usually use '문자를 받다' or '문자가 오다'.

It's slang for intentionally ignoring a call. It's quite rude.

You say '전화가 와요' or '벨이 울려요'.

The honorific version is '받으시다'. There isn't a separate humble verb for this specific action.

You can say '여보세요? 아무도 안 계세요?'

It's very formal and usually used for 'responding' in a technical or official sense, not picking up a personal call.

You can say '다른 전화를 받고 있어요'.

It literally means 'call during absence', or a missed call.

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