‘勿扰’ is a concise, formal phrase meaning ‘do not disturb’. It combines two characters: 勿 (wù), a classical negative particle meaning ‘do not’ or ‘must not’, and 扰 (rǎo), meaning ‘to disturb’, ‘to bother’, or ‘to interrupt’. Though each character carries weight on its own, together they form an imperative expression used to request privacy or signal that interruption is unwelcome. The phrase is commonly seen on signs, hotel room doors, office doors, or digital status indicators.

It functions as both a noun (e.g., ‘a do-not-disturb sign’) and a verb phrase (e.g., ‘please set your phone to 勿扰 mode’). Its tone is polite but firm, rooted in classical Chinese usage—hence its frequent appearance in formal or semi-official contexts rather than casual speech. While modern spoken Mandarin often uses alternatives like ‘别打扰我’ (don’t disturb me), 勿扰 retains a sense of authority and brevity that makes it ideal for written notices and interface labels.