phone

Compared meaning: a device used to talk with someone far away (noun).

比较义项：用来跟不在身边的人通话的装置（名词）。

• phone 本词

  The everyday, informal word for the device, most often used for mobile phones and casual speech; natural in contexts like texting or battery life.

  这是日常、非正式的说法，最常用来指手机，适合发短信、电池电量等口语场景。

  Text me later, my phone's about to die.

  待会儿发短信给我，我的phone快没电了。

• telephone

  The more formal or old-fashioned word, often used in official, written, or institutional contexts and typically implying a landline rather than a mobile device.

  这是更正式、略显老式的说法，常用于正式、书面或机构语境，通常指固定电话而非手机。

  The contract requires written notice by telephone, fax, or mail.

  合同要求以telephone、传真或邮寄方式发送书面通知。

Both words mean the device used to talk to someone who is not there. Telephone is more formal, and often refers to a landline. Phone is informal and much more common in everyday speech, and can also mean a mobile phone.

这两个词在这个意义上很接近，都指用来打电话的装置，但telephone更正式，也更常指固定电话；phone更口语化，日常生活中更常用，也可以指手机。

Compared meaning: to telephone someone (verb).

比较义项：打电话（v.）。

• phone 本词

  Used as a verb meaning to telephone someone; more common in British English, and sounds slightly more formal or old-fashioned than 'call' in everyday American speech.

  作动词表示“打电话”；在英式英语中更常用，在日常美式口语里听起来比call略显正式或有些老派。

  Please phone me as soon as you land at the airport.

  你一落地就请给我打电话。

• call

  The everyday, neutral verb for telephoning someone, common in both British and American English; it also carries many unrelated meanings such as shouting, naming, or visiting.

  表示“打电话”时是最常用、最中性的动词，英式和美式英语都常用；它还有很多不相关的意思，比如大声喊、命名或拜访。

  Call me tonight if you get a chance to talk.

  如果今晚有空聊聊，就给我打个电话。

Both words can mean to telephone someone. Phone as a verb is more common in British English, and sounds slightly more formal than call in everyday American speech. Call is the everyday, neutral verb in both British and American English, with other unrelated meanings too.

这两个词在“打电话”这个意思上很接近，但call更中性、更常用，phone在英式英语里更常见，在美式口语里作动词用略显正式。这里不比较phone作名词表示“电话”这个物品，也不比较call表示“称呼”“大声喊”或“拜访”等其他意思。