dǎcuò: 打错 - To Dial Wrong, To Type Wrong, To Make a Mistake
Quick Summary
Keywords: dacuo, 打错, dǎ cuò, dial the wrong number Chinese, type wrong Chinese, make a mistake Chinese, Chinese for misdial, Chinese for typo, resultative complement, wǒ dǎ cuò le.
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese phrase 打错 (dǎcuò), used when you dial the wrong number, make a typo, or perform a similar action incorrectly. This comprehensive guide for beginners breaks down the characters, explains its use in modern conversation like phone calls and texting, and contrasts it with similar terms. With over 10 practical example sentences, you'll master how to say “I made a mistake” confidently in Mandarin.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎ cuò
Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb + Resultative Complement)
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: To do an action incorrectly, most commonly dialing a phone number or typing on a keyboard.
In a Nutshell: 打错 (dǎcuò) is a fundamental “action + result” phrase. 打 (dǎ) is the action (like dialing, typing, or hitting), and 错 (cuò) is the result (“wrong” or “mistaken”). Together, they create a direct and efficient way to say an action was performed erroneously. It's the go-to phrase for telling someone they've misdialed or for admitting you've made a typo.
Character Breakdown
打 (dǎ): This character's original meaning is “to hit” or “to strike,” which you can see from the hand radical (扌) on the left. Over time, its meaning has expanded to include a huge range of actions done with the hands, such as “to dial a phone,” “to type on a keyboard,” “to play a ball game,” and even “to send (a text).”
错 (cuò): This character simply means “wrong,” “mistaken,” or “error.” It signifies that something is incorrect or has deviated from the intended path.
When combined, 打错 (dǎcuò) literally means “to act/hit wrongly.” The character 错 (cuò) functions as a resultative complement, describing the outcome of the action 打 (dǎ). This verb-complement structure is extremely common in Chinese and is key to expressing the result of an action.
Cultural Context and Significance
The primary cultural significance of 打错 (dǎcuò) lies in its directness and efficiency. In English, when dialing a wrong number, it's common to soften the language: “Oh, I'm sorry, I think I might have the wrong number.” This is slightly indirect.
In Chinese, saying “对不起，我打错了 (Duìbuqǐ, wǒ dǎcuò le)” which means “Sorry, I dialed wrong,” is perfectly polite and standard. There's no need for the extra layer of “I think” or “I might have.” This reflects a communication style that can be more direct, valuing clarity and efficiency without being perceived as rude.
Understanding 打错 (dǎcuò) is also a gateway to understanding the broader grammatical concept of resultative complements (e.g., 看懂 kàndǒng - to look and understand, 做好 zuòhǎo - to do well). This pattern of “action + result” is a core pillar of the Chinese language, showing a focus on the outcome and completion of an action.
Practical Usage in Modern China
On the Phone
This is the most common usage. It's used both to inform someone they've called the wrong place and to apologize for doing so yourself.
To tell someone they called wrong: 你打错了 (Nǐ dǎcuò le).
To apologize for calling wrong: 不好意思，我打错了 (Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ dǎcuò le).
Typing and Texting
In the digital age, this is just as common as the phone call context. It's used for making a typo.
To admit a typo: 啊，那个字我打错了 (Ā, nàge zì wǒ dǎcuò le) - “Ah, I typed that character wrong.”
Often you'll see 打错字 (dǎcuò zì) which specifically means “to make a typo.”
Other Contexts
While less common, the logic can extend to other actions involving “hitting” or “entering” something.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
喂？对不起，我好像打错了。
Pinyin: Wèi? Duìbuqǐ, wǒ hǎoxiàng dǎcuò le.
English: Hello? Sorry, I think I've dialed the wrong number.
Analysis: A very polite and common way to open a conversation when you realize you've misdialed. `好像 (hǎoxiàng)` softens the sentence, making it sound a bit more like the English equivalent.
Example 2:
你打错了，我们这里没有叫李明的人。
Pinyin: Nǐ dǎcuò le, wǒmen zhèlǐ méiyǒu jiào Lǐ Míng de rén.
English: You've dialed the wrong number, there's no one here named Li Ming.
Analysis: This is what you would hear if you were the one who misdialed. It's direct, clear, and not rude.
Example 3:
真不好意思，我把你的名字打错了。
Pinyin: Zhēn bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ bǎ nǐ de míngzì dǎcuò le.
English: I'm so sorry, I typed your name incorrectly.
Analysis: Here, 打错 refers to a typo. The `把 (bǎ)` structure emphasizes the object (your name) that was affected by the wrong action.
Example 4:
哎呀，这个字我打错了，应该是“的”，不是“地”。
Pinyin: Āiyā, zhège zì wǒ dǎcuò le, yīnggāi shì “de”, bùshì “dì”.
English: Oops, I typed this character wrong. It should be “的”, not “地”.
Analysis: A perfect example of correcting a specific typo while texting or typing.
Example 5:
你确定这是他的电话号码吗？我昨天打错了好几次。
Pinyin: Nǐ quèdìng zhè shì tā de diànhuà hàomǎ ma? Wǒ zuótiān dǎcuò le hǎojǐ cì.
English: Are you sure this is his phone number? I dialed it wrong several times yesterday.
Analysis: Shows how to quantify the mistake using `好几次 (hǎojǐ cì)`, meaning “several times.”
Example 6:
他以为这个计划会成功，但他打错了算盘。
Pinyin: Tā yǐwéi zhège jìhuà huì chénggōng, dànshì tā dǎcuò le suànpán.
English: He thought this plan would succeed, but he completely miscalculated.
Analysis: This uses the idiom 打错算盘 (dǎcuò suànpán), which means to misjudge a situation, usually to one's own detriment.
Example 7:
我把邮件地址打错了，怪不得他一直没回复。
Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ yóujiàn dìzhǐ dǎcuò le, guàibude tā yīzhí méi huífù.
English: I typed the email address wrong; no wonder he hasn't replied.
Analysis: Demonstrates the versatility of 打错 for any kind of typed input, including email addresses. `怪不得 (guàibude)` means “no wonder.”
Example 8:
老板，你是不是把价格打错了？这个太贵了！
Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, nǐ shì bùshì bǎ jiàgé dǎcuò le? Zhège tài guì le!
English: Sir, did you enter the price wrong? This is too expensive!
Analysis: Used in a commercial context, questioning if a price was entered incorrectly into a cash register or system.
Example 9:
我在玩游戏的时候，不小心把大招打错了方向。
Pinyin: Wǒ zài wán yóuxì de shíhou, bù xiǎoxīn bǎ dàzhāo dǎcuò le fāngxiàng.
English: When I was playing the game, I accidentally used my ultimate move in the wrong direction.
Analysis: A modern example from the world of video games, where `打` can mean to “use” or “execute” a move.
Example 10:
请检查一下，我担心我把密码打错了。
Pinyin: Qǐng jiǎnchá yīxià, wǒ dānxīn wǒ bǎ mìmǎ dǎcuò le.
English: Please double-check, I'm worried I typed the password wrong.
Analysis: Shows a situation where someone is proactively checking for a potential mistake.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`打错 (dǎcuò)` vs. `做错 (zuòcuò)`: This is a critical distinction for learners.
打错 (dǎcuò) is for specific actions typically done with the hands or technology: dialing, typing, hitting a ball, keying in a number.
做错 (zuòcuò) is much broader and means “to do something wrong” or “to make a mistake” in a general sense. It applies to tasks, decisions, and moral choices.
Incorrect: ~~我做错了电话号码。~~ (Wǒ zuòcuò le diànhuà hàomǎ.)
Correct: 我打错了电话号码。 (Wǒ dǎcuò le diànhuà hàomǎ.) - I dialed the phone number wrong.
Correct: 这道数学题我做错了。 (Zhè dào shùxué tí wǒ zuòcuò le.) - I did this math problem wrong.
Forgetting `了 (le)`: In most contexts where you are stating a completed mistake, you need to add the particle `了 (le)` to indicate completion. “我打错 (Wǒ dǎcuò)” sounds incomplete, whereas “我打错了 (Wǒ dǎcuò le)” sounds natural.
看错 (kàn cuò) - To see incorrectly; to misread. (Action of looking resulted in a mistake).
听错 (tīng cuò) - To hear incorrectly; to mishear. (Action of listening resulted in a mistake).
说错 (shuō cuò) - To say something incorrectly; to misspeak.
写错 (xiě cuò) - To write something incorrectly (by hand). The counterpart to `打错` for handwriting.
弄错 (nòng cuò) - To get something wrong; to confuse or mix up. A very common and slightly more general term for making a mistake.
做错 (zuò cuò) - To do wrong; to make a mistake (general purpose).
错误 (cuòwù) - A more formal noun for “mistake,” “error,” or “blunder.”
结果补语 (jiéguǒ bǔyǔ) - The grammatical term “Resultative Complement,” which is the pattern `打错` follows. Understanding this concept unlocks hundreds of other Chinese verbs.