对不起，你打错电话了
duìbuqǐ, nǐ dǎ cuò diànhuà le
The English phrase "sorry, you have the wrong number" is translated into Chinese as 对不起，你打错电话了 (duìbuqǐ, nǐ dǎ cuò diànhuà le).
This phrase is used during a phone call to inform a caller that they have dialed the incorrect number. It begins with 对不起, which directly translates to "I'm sorry".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase contains the verb phrase 打错, which literally means "to hit/dial incorrectly".
Which one should you use?
In casual conversation, speakers often omit the word for telephone, 电话 and simply say 你打错了. Additionally, you can use 抱歉，你打错了 to sound more professional.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can use 抱歉 instead of 对不起 to sound slightly more formal or professional, which is common in customer service contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
duìbuqǐ, nǐ dǎ cuò diànhuà le
Did you know?
- While 对不起 is the standard translation for 'sorry', it literally means 'cannot face'. It implies that the speaker is unable to face the other person due to a mistake or fault.
- The word 电话 for 'telephone' is composed of the characters for 'electric' and 'speech'. This reflects the early technological view of the phone as a way to transmit speech through electricity.
- In modern digital culture, if someone sends a message to the wrong person, they won't use 打错, as that is specifically for calling. They use the term 发错, meaning 'sent incorrectly'.
Examples in context
- 哎呀，打错电话了。Oops, wrong number!
- 喂？对不起，你打错电话了。Wéi? Duìbuqǐ, nǐ dǎ cuò diànhuà le.Hello? Sorry, you have the wrong number.
Example conversation
A man calls a woman by mistake.
- 伟 Wei喂，请问是李小姐吗？Wèi, qǐngwèn shì Lǐ xiǎojiě ma?Hello, is this Ms. Li?
- 梓涵 Zihan对不起，你打错电话了。Duìbùqǐ, nǐ dǎ cuò diànhuà le.Sorry, you have the wrong number.
- 伟 Wei啊，真不好意思。À, zhēn bù hǎoyìsi.Oh, I am so sorry.
- 梓涵 Zihan没关系。Méiguānxì.That's okay.
