Formal to Client
Workplace · Phone
You
恐れ入りますが、お名前をもう一度お聞かせいただけますでしょうか。
おそれいりますが、おなまえをもういちどおきかせいただけますでしょうか。
I'm sorry to ask, but could I please hear your name once more?
Romaji: Osoreirimasu ga, o-namae wo mou ichido o-kikase itadakemasu deshou ka. / Reply Romaji: Tanaka to moushimasu. T-A-N-A-K-A no Tanaka desu.
Reply
田中と申します。たの田に中です。
たなかともうします。たのたになかです。
My name is Tanaka. The 田 in 'rice field' and the 中 for 'middle.'
Gesture & etiquette
Phone context — have the notepad ready before asking. Write the name as they spell it and repeat it back to confirm: 「田中様でございますね」(That's Mr./Ms. Tanaka, correct?). This prevents errors and shows attention.
Asking for clarification on names is handled with maximum courtesy in Japanese phone etiquette. 「恐れ入りますが」(I'm sorry to trouble you) softens what might otherwise feel like carelessness. Often follow up with: 「どのようなお字でしょうか？」(How do you write that character?) — Japanese names can have many possible kanji.