打扰一下。

When to use

Use this phrase to politely get a stranger's attention, ask a quick question, or interrupt a conversation without causing offense. It is highly versatile in both casual and professional settings.

How it works

Adding the quantity phrase 一下 after a verb is a common grammatical tool to soften a request, making the action sound brief, casual, and less demanding.

• 打扰 (dǎ rǎo): to disturb / to bother
• 一下 (yí xià): a bit / briefly

Pronunciation Note

The number 一 (yī) changes its tone depending on the following syllable. Because 下 (xià) is a fourth-tone syllable, 一 shifts to the second tone (yí). Additionally, since 打 and 扰 are both third-tone syllables, the first one (打) is naturally pronounced as a second tone (dá) in fluid speech due to third-tone sandhi.

Notes

A polite way to interrupt or get someone's attention before asking a question.