🙏⏱️❓

How to Say ‘May I bother you for a moment?’ in Traditional Chinese

可以打擾一下嗎？

kě yǐ dǎ rǎo yī xià ma

[kuh-yee dǎrǎo ee-shyah ma]

💬 Usage Tip: Adding 一下 (yí xià) after an action softens it to "just for a moment." 等一下 "wait a moment" and 看一下 "take a quick look" work the same way.

🇹🇼 In Taiwan: This is the polite way to approach a manager at their desk. It acknowledges that you are interrupting before you ask your question.

Phrase Breakdown

可以

kě yǐ

[kuh-yee]

can; may

Used to express ability, permission, or that something is possible.

Example

你如果想加這位主管的聯絡方式，現在可以先自我介紹。

If you want to add this manager's contact information, you can introduce yourself first now.

打擾一下嗎？

dǎ rǎo yī xià ma

bother you for a moment?

打擾 (disturb) + 一下 (briefly) + 嗎. 打擾 is dǎrǎo, with 打 rising before 擾.

Example

不好意思，打擾一下。

Excuse me, sorry to bother you.

Words in this phrase

打擾

dǎ rǎo

[dǎrǎo]

to disturb; to bother

Used politely when interrupting someone.

Example

不好意思，打擾你了。

Sorry to bother you.

一下

yī xià

[ee-shyah]

a bit; briefly

一下 softens an action and often means 'for a moment' or 'a little bit.'

Example

我想跟你確認一下時間。

I want to confirm the time with you briefly.

嗎

[ma]

question particle

A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.

Example

你喜歡這個活動嗎？

Do you like this event?

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