请原谅我
qing yuanliang wo
In Chinese, "please forgive me" is said as 请原谅我 (qing yuanliang wo).
请原谅我 is a polite request used when a person has committed a specific wrong or offense and is explicitly asking for the other person's pardon.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 请 (please), 原谅 (to forgive) and 我 (me).
Which one should you use?
While 请原谅我 is a direct request for forgiveness, the more common way to express apology or regret for a mistake is 对不起.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 对唔住 is a way to say please forgive me.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 吧 at the end of the phrase, as in 请原谅我吧, makes the request sound more like a sincere plea or a suggestion, which helps to soften the tone.
How do you pronounce it?
qing yuanliang wo
Did you know?
- The character 请 in 请原谅我 originally meant 'to invite' or 'to treat someone to a meal', evolving over time into a general marker of politeness.
- While 请原谅我 is quite formal, if you make a small social blunder, you might instead say 不好意思, which more closely translates to 'not good meaning' or 'having a bit of embarrassment'.
- The character 谅 in 原谅 implies 'to consider' or 'to think about', meaning you are asking the person to actually weigh your actions in their mind before deciding to forgive.
Examples in context
- 请原谅我吧。Please forgive me.This sentence is useful for seeing how adding the particle 吧 affects the tone of the phrase 请原谅我.Tatoeba #11243419 by klzlueylx, translation #38820 by CK
- 对不起，简，请原谅我忘记按时还你的书了。Jane, I'm sorry. Please forgive me for forgetting to return your book on time.
- 汤姆对不起，请原谅我不小心打破了你家的花瓶。Tom, I'm sorry. Please forgive me for accidentally breaking your vase at your house.
- 请原谅我这次的迟到。Qǐng yuánliàng wǒ zhè cì de chídào.Please forgive my lateness this time.
- 我真的错了，请原谅我。Wǒ zhēn de cuò le, qǐng yuánliàng wǒ.I was really wrong, please forgive me.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zhiqiang apologizes to Jiayi for forgetting her birthday.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我忘了你的生日，请原谅我。Wǒ wàngle nǐ de shēngrì, qǐng yuánliàng wǒ.I forgot your birthday, please forgive me.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你真的让我很伤心。Nǐ zhēn de ràng wǒ hěn shāngxīn.You really made me sad.
- 志强 Zhiqiang下次我一定会补偿你的。Xià cì wǒ yīdìng huì bǔcháng nǐ de.I will definitely make it up to you next time.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好吧，那我就原谅你了。Hǎo ba, nà wǒ jiù yuánliàng nǐ le.Alright, then I forgive you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
