Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 對不起 / 对不起 | duìbùqǐ |
| 抱歉 | bàoqiàn |
| 不好意思 | bù hǎoyìsi |
| 對不住 / 对不住 | duìbùzhù |
These terms are used to express regret or sorrow. 不好意思 can be used as a polite way to get someone's attention, similar to 'Excuse me' in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 對不起 / 对不起 literally means 'cannot face' or 'cannot face up to' someone, implying one's actions have caused a loss of face or a breach of social standing.
Which one should you use?
Use 不好意思 instead of 對不起 / 对不起 for minor social inconveniences, such as bumping into someone or asking for a favor, whereas 對不起 / 对不起 is used for more serious apologies. 對不住 / 对不住 is a more colloquial and sometimes more forceful or blunt way to say 'sorry' or 'I've let you down' compared to the standard 對不起 / 对不起.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
對不起 / 对不起 is a common apology suitable for formal situations. 抱歉 is a more formal way to express apology than 對不起 / 对不起, and 很抱歉 is used for a more formal and sincere apology in professional or serious situations. 不好意思 is used for less formal or casual situations among friends or acquaintances and is a colloquial way to say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' for small matters.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'to feel sorry' or 'to feel regretful', you can use the verb 感到 (gǎndào) before 抱歉.
How do you pronounce it?
duìbùqǐ
Did you know?
- In some contexts, 不好意思 is used not to apologize for a mistake, but to express shy or bashful modesty when receiving a compliment.
- While English speakers often say 'sorry' to express sympathy for a tragedy, Chinese speakers are more likely to use 遺憾 for 'regret' or 節哀 to tell someone to 'restrain their grief'.
- While 對不起 implies a failure to 'face' someone, 抱歉 literally means 'holding' or 'clasping' 'regret' in one's heart.
Examples in context
- 我深感抱歉。I am sincerely sorry.This sentence is useful for expressing deep sincere regret using 抱歉.Tatoeba #13519444 by LeviHighway, translation #13117667 by atitarev
- 抱歉，打错了。Sorry, wrong number.This sentence shows how to use 抱歉 when making a mistake like a wrong number.Tatoeba #13943170 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #1290129 by Eldad
- 我听了感到抱歉。I'm sorry to hear it.This sentence demonstrates how to express feeling regret using 抱歉.Tatoeba #5900185 by verdastelo9604, translation #41765 by CK
- 对不起，我迟到了。Sorry, I'm late.
- 很抱歉，我犯了一个错误。I'm truly sorry, I made a mistake.
- 不好意思，我忘记带你的书了。Sorry, I forgot to bring your book.
- 122 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
