我的错
wǒ de cuò
The English phrase "my bad" can be translated into Chinese as 我的错 (wǒ de cuò).
Meaning: my fault (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 我 (I/me), the possessive particle 的 and 错 (mistake/fault).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While 我的错 is a literal translation of the English expression, in casual social situations, Chinese speakers are much more likely to use 不好意思 to acknowledge a minor mistake or social slip-up.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ de cuò
Did you know?
- A playful way to say 'my bad' among close friends is to use 我的锅, which literally means 'my pot'.
- In some contexts, a person might simply say 对不起 instead of 我的错, but 对不起 literally means 'not facing you' or 'cannot face you' due to shame.
- In Chinese culture, accepting fault via 我的错 is sometimes seen as a way to 'save face' for the other person by taking full responsibility quickly.
Examples in context
- 这是我的错。It's my bad.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 我的错.Tatoeba #790573 by GlossaMatik, translation #790572 by FeuDRenais2
- 不好意思，全是我的错。bù hǎo yì si, quán shì wǒ de cuò.Sorry, it's all my fault.
Example conversation
Haoran accidentally spilled some water on the table.
- 浩然 Haoran哎呀，我的错！Āiyā, wǒ de cuò!Oops, my bad!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没事，我来擦。Méishì, wǒ lái cā.It's okay, I'll wipe it.
- 浩然 Haoran真的太抱歉了，晓雯。Zhēnde tài bàoqiàn le, Xiǎowén.I'm really sorry, Xiaowen.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没关系，浩然。Méi guānxì, Hàorán.No problem, Haoran.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
