你打错了。

When you pick up the phone and don't recognize the person, wait. If they ask for 'Mr. Wang' and you are definitely not Mr. Wang, say it. You can say it alone or add a polite 'sorry' at the beginning. It works for voice calls and text messages too. Just type it out if a stranger pings your WeChat by mistake.

You use this the moment you realize the caller has the wrong person.

• Use it with telemarketers who have your old data.
• Use it with grandmas calling their grandsons by mistake.
• Use it when a delivery driver has the wrong address.

It is a functional phrase meant to save everyone's time. Don't feel bad about saying it quickly!

Do not use this if someone makes a mistake in a conversation. If they say the wrong fact, use 你说错了 instead. This phrase is strictly for communication 'connections' like phones or messaging. Also, don't use it if you actually know the person but they just said something weird. That would be a very confusing joke!

In China, phone numbers change frequently as people move between provinces. This means 'wrong number' calls are quite common. Traditionally, people might be very blunt on the phone. You might hear a quick 你打错了 followed by an immediate hang-up. Don't take it personally! It is just the fast-paced nature of city life.

You can make it softer by adding 对不起 (sorry) at the start. If you want to be extra clear, say 你打错电话了. This adds the word for 'phone' at the end. For a very polite version, use 您 instead of 你. This shows respect to the stranger on the other end. It turns a potential annoyance into a polite interaction.