打扰

• Pinyin: dǎ rǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 打 (action marker) + 扰 (disturb)

Meaning

To disturb; to bother; to interrupt.

A polite way to acknowledge that you're taking someone's time or interrupting them. Very common as a polite phrase when entering someone's space, asking for help, or before leaving. Can be used genuinely or as a formality.

Examples

1. 不好意思打扰你，请问这附近有银行吗？ Sorry to bother you, but is there a bank nearby?
2. 他在开会，你别去打扰他了。 He's in a meeting — don't go disturb him.
3. 打扰了，我先走了。 Sorry for the interruption; I'll be going now.

Usage Guide

Context: requests, apologies, interruptions

Tone: courteous

Do Say

• 打扰一下，请问...。(Excuse me, may I ask...)
• 不好意思打扰了。(Sorry for the disturbance.)

Don't Say

• 离开时只说'打扰了'可能让人觉得你生气了——加上'谢谢'或'再见'更友好 (Just saying 打扰了 when leaving may seem curt — add 谢谢 or 再见 to sound friendlier)

Origin & History

Compound of 打 (action marker) + 扰 (to disturb), meaning to cause disturbance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal