Learning how to express regret in Chinese is an essential step towards effective communication. Whether you want to apologize, express remorse, or simply acknowledge a sense of regret, this guide will provide you with formal and informal ways to do so in Mandarin Chinese.
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Formal Expressions of Regret
When it comes to formal situations where politeness and respect are crucial, you can use the following phrases to express regret in Chinese:
1. 很抱歉 (hěn bào qiàn)
很抱歉，我迟到了。
Hěn bào qiàn, wǒ chí dào le.
Sorry, I’m late.
2. 对不起 (duì bù qǐ)
对不起，我弄错了。
Duì bù qǐ, wǒ nòng cuò le.
I’m sorry, I made a mistake.
3. 实在抱歉 (shí zài bào qiàn)
实在抱歉，我没能帮上忙。
Shí zài bào qiàn, wǒ méi néng bāng shàng máng.
I’m really sorry, I couldn’t help.
Informal Expressions of Regret
In less formal settings, such as when talking to friends, family, or close acquaintances, you can use these phrases to express regret:
1. 对不起啊 (duì bù qǐ ā)
对不起啊，我忘了买东西。
Duì bù qǐ ā, wǒ wàng le mǎi dōng xi.
Oops, sorry, I forgot to buy things.
2. 真的很抱歉 (zhēn de hěn bào qiàn)
真的很抱歉，我不能一起去。
Zhēn de hěn bào qiàn, wǒ bù néng yī qǐ qù.
I’m really sorry, I can’t go together.
3. 我错了 (wǒ cuò le)
我错了，别生气了。
Wǒ cuò le, bié shēng qì le.
I’m sorry, don’t be angry.
Additional Tips and Examples
Here are some additional tips and examples to enhance your understanding of expressing regret in Chinese:
1. Use 笑着 (xiào zhe) to soften the apology
When expressing regret, adding 笑着 (xiào zhe) after the apology can help soften the tone and convey sincerity.
对不起笑着，我弄丢了你的钥匙。
Duì bù qǐ xiào zhe, wǒ nòng diū le nǐ de yào shi.
Sorry, I lost your keys.
2. Pair apologies with 先 (xiān) to express future intentions
If you want to express your determination to avoid making the same mistake in the future, you can use the phrase 先 (xiān) before the apology.
先对不起，下次我一定会准时。
Xiān duì bù qǐ, xià cì wǒ yī dìng huì zhǔn shí.
First, I’m sorry. I will definitely be on time next time.
3. Combine apologies with 非常感谢 (fēi cháng gǎn xiè) to show gratitude
If you want to express gratitude along with your apology, use the phrase 非常感谢 (fēi cháng gǎn xiè) to convey appreciation.
很抱歉迟到，非常感谢你的耐心等待。
Hěn bào qiàn chí dào, fēi cháng gǎn xiè nǐ de nài xīn děng dài.
Sorry for being late, and thank you very much for your patience.
Remember that sincerity and the willingness to make amends are key when expressing regret, regardless of the specific words you choose to use. Practice these phrases to become more fluent in communicating your apologies and regrets in Mandarin Chinese.
