The two characters combine to mean “to perform the action of disturbing.” 打 (dǎ) gives the word its active, verbal quality, while 扰 (rǎo) provides the specific meaning of the action.
In Chinese culture, great value is placed on social harmony and avoiding causing trouble or inconvenience (麻烦, máfan) for others. An interruption, no matter how small, is seen as a potential disruption of this harmony. Therefore, verbally acknowledging the disruption with 打扰 (dǎrǎo) is a crucial sign of respect and good manners. Contrast this with a more direct culture, like in the United States, where walking into an office with an open door and saying, “Hey, got a minute?” is often perfectly acceptable. In China, the default is to assume the person is busy and to preface any interaction with a polite buffer like 打扰一下 (dǎrǎo yíxià). This isn't about being timid; it's about being socially intelligent and considerate. It signals that you value the other person's time and are not taking their attention for granted. This small act reinforces positive social bonds and shows you understand the importance of not imposing.
打扰 (dǎrǎo) is a versatile word used in many daily situations.
Approaching a stranger for directions: “打扰一下，请问…” (Dǎrǎo yíxià, qǐngwèn…)Entering a colleague's office: “打扰了，你有空吗？” (Dǎrǎo le, nǐ yǒu kòng ma?)After your phone rings in a quiet library: “不好意思，打扰大家了。” (Bù hǎoyìsi, dǎrǎo dàjiā le.) - “Sorry for disturbing everyone.”To a noisy neighbor: “你这样会打扰到别人休息！” (Nǐ zhèyàng huì dǎrǎo dào biérén xiūxi!) - “You're disturbing others' rest by doing this!”