打错了
da cuo le
In Chinese, "wrong number" is expressed as 打错了 (da cuo le).
This phrase is used both by the person who realized they dialed the wrong number and by the person who received the call to indicate a mistake was made.
Meaning: A call with a mistake in the number dialled (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 打错了 is the most common shorthand, you can make the phrase more explicit by adding 电话 (telephone) after the verb to say 打错电话了.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can use the polite pronoun 您 (nín) before the phrase to make it more respectful when informing a caller that they have reached the wrong person. For more formal settings, you might use 对不起，我拨错了号码 (I'm sorry, I dialed the wrong number) or 打扰了，我打错电话了 (Sorry for bothering you, I dialed the wrong phone number). Informal variations include 对不起，我拨错号了 and 抱歉，我打错电话了.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike the English noun phrase "a wrong number", the Chinese phrase 打错了 functions as a verb phrase describing the action of dialing incorrectly.
How do you pronounce it?
da cuo le
Did you know?
- The word for 'number' in 号码 (hàomǎ) combines a word for 'code' and a word for 'horse', as 码 originally referred to a counting token used in ancient trade.
- The verb used in 打错了, 打, literally means 'to hit' or 'to strike'.
- In Chinese, 打 is used for many activities that involve a rhythm or a back-and-forth motion, such as 打球 for playing ball and 打太极 for practicing Tai Chi.
Examples in context
- 抱歉，打错了。Sorry, wrong number.This example shows how to use 打错了 to apologize for a wrong number.Tatoeba #13943170 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #1290129 by Eldad
- – 你好，请问李先生在家吗？
– 对不起，我拨错了号码。– Hello, is Mr. Li at home?
– I'm sorry, I dialed the wrong number. - – 你是张小姐吗？
– 不好意思，打错电话了。– Are you Miss Zhang?
– Sorry for bothering you, I dialed the wrong phone number. - – 喂，找李先生。
– 噢，对不起，我拨错号了。– Hello, is Mr. Li there?
– Oh, sorry, I dialed the wrong number. - – 喂，是小王吗？
– 哎呀，抱歉，我打错电话了。– Hello, is this Xiaowang?
– Oh, sorry, I called the wrong phone number. - 不好意思，您打错了。Bù hǎoyìsi, nín dǎ cuò le.Sorry, you have the wrong number.
- 刚才那通电话是打错了。Gāngcái nà tōng diànhuà shì dǎ cuò le.That last call was a wrong number.
Example conversation
A man calls a woman's phone by mistake.
- 志强 Zhiqiang喂，请问张小姐在吗？Wéi, qǐngwèn Zhāng xiǎojiě zài ma?Hello, is Miss Zhang there?
- 雨婷 Yuting您打错了。Nín dǎ cuò le.You have the wrong number.
- 志强 Zhiqiang对不起，我打错了。Duìbùqǐ, wǒ dǎ cuò le.I am sorry, I dialed the wrong number.
- 雨婷 Yuting没关系。Méiguānxì.It's okay.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
