<p>I think the most common way is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我以为你是另外一个人<br>
  <sub>wo yiwei ni shi linwai yi ge ren</sub></p>
</blockquote>

<p>You could also say:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我以为你是别人<br>
  <sub>wo yiwei ni shi bie ren</sub></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Often you may say the name of the person that you think they are:</p>

<p>我以为你是 'someone's name'. </p>

<p>You may like to add: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>不好意思<br>
  <sub>bu hao yisi</sub></p>
</blockquote>

<p>At the beginning of the sentence depending on the circumstance.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-03T22:31:45.673Z
I thought that might be the case. Is 我以为你是其他的人 also valid? I had a couple of ideas but wasn't sure if either of them were correct.
going
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-03T22:35:27.957Z
I think you could say that, although I haven't heard it much. It would probably be better without the 的 - as in this case apparently it just sounds better. Am not sure why, but hopefully a native speaker can clear this up.
chentudou
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-04T01:47:09.773Z
@xiaohouzi79: All the above can be understood by natives. But none of the above or your example (except 我以为你是...) is natural. 我以为你是 ... can be used when the three of the persons involved all know each other.
fefe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-04T11:02:18.327Z
Yes I agree, but I was trying to get as close to a direct translation of the phrase in the question, i.e. saying i thought you were someone else and not just that that I got the wrong person, otherwise I'd go with Terry's answer.
chentudou
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-04T17:15:19.743Z
On a side note, 我以为你是另外一个人 is also fairly close to how you'd normally say it in Cantonese.
Zann Anderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-05T14:58:37.397Z
Can you add the pinyin tone markers?
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-03T22:29:07.813Z
2012-01-05T14:58:24.743Z
2012-01-05T14:58:24.743Z
chentudou
<p>Useful to know:</p>

<p>If it's on the phone, say <code>不好意思，我打错了。</code></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-20T16:56:29.393Z
2012-06-20T16:56:29.393Z
Stumpy Joe Pete
<p>chentudou has great answer. I'd like to add</p>

<p>很抱歉，我看错人了</p>

<p>抱歉 for being extra polite</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-04T15:42:45.697Z
2012-01-04T15:42:45.697Z
Lars Andren
<blockquote>
  <p>噢，不好意思，我认错人了。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is what I usually say in a real conversation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-04T00:06:21.717Z
2012-01-04T00:06:21.717Z
Terry Li
<p>In English if you mistake someone for another person it is common to say "I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else".</p>

<p>How should this be said in Chinese?</p>

<word-choice>
What is the correct way to say: "I thought you were somebody else."
# What is the correct way to say: "I thought you were somebody else."

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-03)

In English if you mistake someone for another person it is common to say "I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else".

How should this be said in Chinese?

**Tags:** word-choice


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2012-01-04. Score: 15 | Accepted answer

> 噢，不好意思，我认错人了。

This is what I usually say in a real conversation.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-01-03. Score: 6

I think the most common way is:

> 我以为你是另外一个人  
> wo yiwei ni shi linwai yi ge ren

You could also say:

> 我以为你是别人  
> wo yiwei ni shi bie ren

Often you may say the name of the person that you think they are:

我以为你是 'someone's name'.

You may like to add:

> 不好意思  
> bu hao yisi

At the beginning of the sentence depending on the circumstance.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I thought that might be the case. Is 我以为你是其他的人 also valid? I had a couple of ideas but wasn't sure if either of them were correct.  
> **username_1**: I think you could say that, although I haven't heard it much. It would probably be better without the 的 - as in this case apparently it just sounds better. Am not sure why, but hopefully a native speaker can clear this up.  
> **username_2**: @xiaohouzi79: All the above can be understood by natives. But none of the above or your example (except 我以为你是...) is natural. 我以为你是 ... can be used when the three of the persons involved all know each other.  
> **username_1**: Yes I agree, but I was trying to get as close to a direct translation of the phrase in the question, i.e. saying i thought you were someone else and not just that that I got the wrong person, otherwise I'd go with Terry's answer.  
> **username_3**: On a side note, 我以为你是另外一个人 is also fairly close to how you'd normally say it in Cantonese.  
> **username_4**: Can you add the pinyin tone markers?  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2012-06-20. Score: 1

Useful to know:

If it's on the phone, say `不好意思，我打错了。`


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### Answer by username_6 on 2012-01-04. Score: 1

username_1 has great answer. I'd like to add

很抱歉，我看错人了

抱歉 for being extra polite


---

