对不起
duìbuqǐ
I'm sorry
How to say "excuse me" in Chinese
打扰一下
dǎrǎo yíxià
Excuse me (to interrupt)
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
打扰 (dǎrǎo) means "to disturb," and 一下 (yíxià) is a softener meaning "a bit." Together it's "disturb a moment," a polite way to interrupt.
Variations and politeness
打扰
dǎrǎo
to disturb — Shorter and less polite; often used to apologize for interrupting.
请问
qǐngwèn
May I ask...? — More formal and polite; used before asking a question.
不好意思
bù hǎo yì si
Excuse me / Sorry — More casual apology; also used to get attention or express mild embarrassment.
Mini dialogue
A
打扰一下，你能帮我吗？
dǎrǎo yíxià, nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?
Excuse me, can you help me?
B
当然可以！
dāngrán kěyǐ!
Of course!
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you need to get a stranger's attention, like a shop assistant or someone on the street.
- When you want to interrupt someone politely before asking a question.
- When you are about to ask for directions, time, or a small favor.
Avoid when
- When you are apologizing for a mistake or bumping into someone; use 不好意思 instead.
- When you are asking a question in a very formal setting; 请问 is more appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'excuse me' in Chinese?
You can say 打扰一下 (dǎrǎo yíxià) to politely get someone's attention or interrupt.
How do you pronounce 打扰一下?
It is pronounced dǎrǎo yíxià. Note that 一 changes to the second tone before the fourth tone.
When should I use 打扰一下 instead of 请问?
Use 打扰一下 when you need to interrupt or get attention, while 请问 is more formal and used directly before asking a question.
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