Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 不好意思 | bùhǎoyìsi |
| 對不起 / 对不起 | duìbùqǐ |
| 抱歉！ | bàoqiàn! |
These terms are used to apologize or to get someone's attention. 不好意思 is commonly used to say 'excuse me' or to apologize for a minor inconvenience. For more serious apologies where you have caused harm or offense, use 對不起. 抱歉 also functions as a way to express regret or apology. If you specifically want to say 'May I ask' or 'Excuse me' to start a question, you can use 请问. If you wish to say 'Excuse me for interrupting' or 'May I bother you for a moment', use 打扰一下.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 不好意思 literally translates to 'not good meaning' or 'not feeling good/comfortable' in a social sense.
Which one should you use?
不好意思 is used for minor social awkwardness or small inconveniences. In contrast, 對不起 is used for more serious apologies or when you have actually caused harm or offense.
How do you pronounce it?
bùhǎoyìsi
Did you know?
- The characters in 對不起 literally mean 'cannot face' or 'cannot match', implying the speaker is not worthy of looking the other person in the eye.
- The word 抱歉 contains the character for 'hug' 抱, suggesting a sense of 'holding' or 'embracing' the regret one feels.
- In many Chinese-speaking regions, saying 不好意思 can actually describe a physical reaction, such as blushing or feeling shy in a social setting.
Examples in context
- 不好意思，但我有点恶心。Excuse me, but I feel sick.This sentence uses 不好意思 to express a physical state.Tatoeba #9956880 by GlossaMatik, translation #51488 by CK
- 不好意思，請問你有筆嗎？Excuse me, do you have a pen?This sentence uses 不好意思 to politely ask a question.Tatoeba #13867422 by LeviHighway, translation #4013815 by CK
- 不好意思，我有点儿不舒服。Excuse me, I'm not feeling very well.This sentence uses 不好意思 to explain a lack of physical comfort.Tatoeba #4878943 by musclegirlxyp, translation #10726364 by DJ_Saidez
- 请问，厕所在哪里？Excuse me, where is the restroom?
- 对不起，我迟到了。Excuse me, I'm late.
- 打扰一下，请问这个地方怎么去？Excuse me for interrupting, how can I get to this place?
- 不好意思，请问你有看到我的手机吗？Excuse me, have you seen my phone?
- 喂，你有空吗？Hey, do you have a moment?
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a busy cafe, Zihan accidentally bumps into Junjie.
- 梓涵 Zihan不好意思，我撞到你了。bù hǎo yì si, wǒ zhuàng dào nǐ le.Excuse me, I bumped into you.
- 俊杰 Junjie沒關係，妳還好嗎？méi guān xi, nǐ hái hǎo ma?It's okay, are you alright?
- 梓涵 Zihan我沒事，謝謝。wǒ méi shì, xiè xie.I'm fine, thank you.
- 俊杰 Junjie那就好。nà jiù hǎo.That's good then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse me” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
