Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

Answering machine functionality with 機能

Kanji Explanation: Ability and capability with 能

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Answering machine functionality with 機能.
名探偵コナン » Volume 6 » Page 64

A murder suspect explains how when he called the victim, the phone kept ringing until the answering machine picked up.

目暮(めぐれ):
「奥(おく)さん！ここの留守番(るすばん)電話(でんわ)の機能(きのう)は？」
“Ma'am! How does this answering machine function?”
奥(おく)さん:
「は、はい…　十数回(じゅうすうかい)コールしても出(で)ない時(とき)は、自動的(じどうてき)に留守番(るすばん)電話(でんわ)に切(き)り替(か)わるようになってます…」
“Well... When there's no answer after ten rings, it automatically switches to the answering machine...”

機能(きのう) refers to the mechanical function of the answering machine.

Key Points

  1. 機能(きのう) here means function or operating behavior

    • Megure is asking how the answering machine system works.

    • In this scene 機能(きのう) is about mechanism and operation, not usefulness in the abstract.

See Also