打错电话了
dǎcuò diànhuà le
In Chinese, "wrong phone number" is expressed as 打错电话了 (dǎcuò diànhuà le).
This phrase is used when someone calls a telephone number that does not belong to the person they intended to reach. You can use the verb phrase 打错电话 to mean "to dial the wrong number", or use the full phrase 打错电话了 as a complete sentence to inform a caller they have the wrong number.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 打 (to dial/hit), 错 (wrong), 电话 (telephone) and 了 (a particle indicating a change of state or completed action).
Which one should you use?
Speakers often shorten the phrase to 打错了 in casual conversation once the context of a telephone call is already established.
How do you pronounce it?
dǎcuò diànhuà le
Did you know?
- Because 打 is so versatile, the same verb used for dialing a phone is also used for taking a taxi 打车 and getting a discount 打折.
- The word 打 in the phrase 打错电话了 literally means 'to hit' or 'to strike'. Because of this versatile meaning, the same verb is used to describe playing basketball or fighting.
- In many Chinese regions, if you receive a call from a stranger and realize it is a wrong number, it is common to say 您打错了 which adds the polite honorific 您 to avoid sounding rude. Using just 打错了 to a stranger might sound slightly abrupt or blunt.
Examples in context
- 你是不是打错电话了？Nǐ shì bú shì dǎ cuò diànhuà le?Did you dial the wrong number?
- 不好意思，您打错电话了。Bù hǎoyìsi, nín dǎ cuò diànhuà le.Sorry, you have the wrong number.
- 可能是他打错电话了。Kěnéng shì tā dǎ cuò diànhuà le.Maybe he dialed the wrong number.
Example conversation
A person calls a stranger by mistake.
- 志强 Zhiqiang喂？请问是谁？Wéi? Qǐngwèn shì shéi?Hello? Who is this, please?
- 佳怡 Jiayi你好，请问志强在吗？Nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn Zhìqiáng zài ma?Hello, is Zhiqiang there?
- 志强 Zhiqiang对不起，佳怡，你打错电话了。Duìbuqǐ, Jiāyí, nǐ dǎ cuò diànhuà le.Sorry, Jiayi, you have the wrong number.
- 佳怡 Jiayi啊，不好意思，打扰了。À, bù hǎoyìsi, dǎrǎo le.Oh, sorry for bothering you.
