<p>冒昧打扰 is a phrase that relates to Chinese social nuances. It is a very polite way of making an unsolicited request, usually to a stranger, and getting that person to help you when he/she is occupied with something else, or in a way that would inconvenient that person to a certain extent that it would usually be rejected.</p>

<p>Breaking it up:</p>

<ul>
<li>冒昧 means to be bold or taking the liberty to do something</li>
<li>打扰 means to bother, disturb, interrupt or trouble</li>
</ul>

<p>Some scenarios where this phrase could be applied:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>A reporter trying to get an interview with a customer while he is having
breakfast.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><b>冒昧打扰</b>，我是XXX周刊记者。能否跟你做个采访？<br> Sorry to bother you, I am a reporter from XXX weekly. Can I do an interview with you?</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>An acquaintance trying to get a loan for his business over the phone.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>是我，老陈，<b>冒昧打扰</b>了.... 我的公司现在正面临财政危机，想向您借点钱周转。<br> It's me, Chen, sorry for taking the liberty to call you....(after some beating around the bush).... My company is facing some financial difficulties right now, not sure If I can borrow some cash from you to help me tide over this period.</p>
</blockquote></li>
</ul>

<p>It would be overly polite to use this phrase if you are just asking for simple directions. But if you wish to persuade someone to bring you there instead, then, that would be quite an effective way to ask.</p>

<p>Further, to use 冒昧打扰 followed by 请您见谅 (pardon me) would be an overkill. Either which is already very polite.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-19T04:21:10.127Z
2013-05-19T04:21:10.127Z
杨以轩
<p>In Chinese, we have the expression "冒昧打扰" <em>màomèidǎrǎo</em>. </p>

<p>To put it into a sentence: 冒昧打扰,请您见谅。 <em>màomèi dǎrǎo, qǐng nín jiànliàng</em></p>

<p>Is there a similar expression in English?</p>

<translation>
What is the equivalent of "冒昧打扰" in English?
# What is the equivalent of "冒昧打扰" in English?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-18)

In Chinese, we have the expression "冒昧打扰" *màomèidǎrǎo*.

To put it into a sentence: 冒昧打扰,请您见谅。 *màomèi dǎrǎo, qǐng nín jiànliàng*

Is there a similar expression in English?

**Tags:** translation

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-05-19. Score: 3

冒昧打扰 is a phrase that relates to Chinese social nuances. It is a very polite way of making an unsolicited request, usually to a stranger, and getting that person to help you when he/she is occupied with something else, or in a way that would inconvenient that person to a certain extent that it would usually be rejected.

Breaking it up:

* 冒昧 means to be bold or taking the liberty to do something
* 打扰 means to bother, disturb, interrupt or trouble

Some scenarios where this phrase could be applied:

* A reporter trying to get an interview with a customer while he is having
  breakfast.

  > **冒昧打扰**，我是XXX周刊记者。能否跟你做个采访？  
  >  Sorry to bother you, I am a reporter from XXX weekly. Can I do an interview with you?
* An acquaintance trying to get a loan for his business over the phone.

  > 是我，老陈，**冒昧打扰**了.... 我的公司现在正面临财政危机，想向您借点钱周转。  
  >  It's me, Chen, sorry for taking the liberty to call you....(after some beating around the bush).... My company is facing some financial difficulties right now, not sure If I can borrow some cash from you to help me tide over this period.

It would be overly polite to use this phrase if you are just asking for simple directions. But if you wish to persuade someone to bring you there instead, then, that would be quite an effective way to ask.

Further, to use 冒昧打扰 followed by 请您见谅 (pardon me) would be an overkill. Either which is already very polite.


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