对不起，打错了
duìbuqǐ, dǎcuò le
In Chinese, "sorry wrong number" is expressed as 对不起，打错了 (duìbuqǐ, dǎcuò le).
The phrase 对不起，打错了 is the standard way to apologize when you realize you have called the wrong person or number.
What does it mean word for word?
The part 打错了 literally means "to hit/dial wrongly".
Which one should you use?
While 对不起，打错了 is the standard form, you can use 打错了号码，真不好意思 to mean "I apologize for dialing the wrong number" in more formal contexts. Conversely, 抱歉搞错号码了 is an informal way to say "Sorry, I got the number wrong".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 打错了, the particle 了 at the end indicates that the action of dialing the wrong number has already occurred.
How do you pronounce it?
duìbuqǐ, dǎcuò le
Did you know?
- The character 对 in 对不起 originally meant 'to face' or 'to oppose', suggesting that the apology is about not being able to 'face' the other person.
- In China, many people use the term 打扰了 (meaning 'I have disturbed you') as a more culturally sophisticated way to apologize after realizing a wrong number.
- The verb used in 打错了 is 打, which also means 'to hit', 'to beat', or 'to fight'.
Examples in context
- 你好，对不起打扰了，我可能打错了号码。Hello, sorry for bothering you, I may have dialed the wrong number.
- 不好意思，打错了号码，非常抱歉。I'm sorry for dialing the wrong number, I apologize.
- 嘿，不好意思，我搞错了号码。Hey, sorry, I dialed the wrong number.
- 对不起，抱歉搞错号码了，打扰到你了。Sorry, I got the number wrong, I disturbed you.
Example conversation
Yuting calls a number thinking it is her friend's, but it belongs to Wei.
- 雨婷 Yuting喂，请问是王老师吗？Wèi, qǐngwèn shì Wáng lǎoshī ma?Hello, is this Teacher Wang?
- 伟 Wei不是，你打错了。Bú shì, nǐ dǎcuò le.No, you have the wrong number.
- 雨婷 Yuting对不起，打错了。Duìbuqǐ, dǎcuò le.Sorry, wrong number.
- 伟 Wei没关系。Méi guānxi.It's okay.
