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 expressions are used to convey regret or sorrow. The most common and general way to apologize is 對不起 / 对不起, which can mean both 'I'm sorry' and 'excuse me'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 對不起 / 对不起 literally means 'cannot face' or 'cannot meet' someone, implying that one's actions have caused them to lose face or be unable to look them in the eye.
Which one should you use?
對不起 / 对不起 is a direct apology for a mistake or offense. In contrast, 不好意思 is a lighter expression used for minor inconveniences or to excuse oneself, often acting as a polite way to say 'excuse me' or to express slight embarrassment. 對不住 / 对不住 is a more colloquial and sometimes more forceful way to express that you have let someone down or failed them, typically used in personal or dramatic contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
對不起 / 对不起 is particularly suitable for formal apologies. 抱歉 is more formal and carries a heavier sense of regret than the colloquial 對不起 / 对不起. For even more formal written apologies, one might use 深感歉意 to express deep regret. The phrase 请原谅 means 'please forgive me' and is more formal than 對不起 / 对不起. On the lighter side, 不好意思 is commonly used in informal situations to express a lighter sense of apology.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, 不好意思 is often used to apologize in both formal and informal situations. In Cantonese, the phrase 對唔住 is commonly used to say sorry.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 抱歉 is an adjective and can be modified by degree adverbs like 很 (hěn, very) to say 'very sorry', resulting in 很抱歉.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for 對不起 / 对不起 is duìbùqǐ.
Did you know?
- The character 抱 in 抱歉 literally means 'to hold' or 'to embrace', suggesting that the speaker is 'holding' the regret within themselves.
- In many Chinese social contexts, a sincere apology is often accompanied by a physical gesture of slightly bowing the head or avoiding direct eye contact to show humility.
- In high-stakes formal apologies, Chinese speakers may use the phrase 愧對 to express that they have failed a specific moral duty to the person they are apologizing to.
Examples in context
- 我深感抱歉。I am sincerely sorry.This sentence is useful for expressing a sincere apology using 抱歉.Tatoeba #13519444 by LeviHighway, translation #13117667 by atitarev
- 抱歉，打错了。Sorry, wrong number.This sentence is useful for apologizing for a wrong number using 抱歉.Tatoeba #13943170 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #1290129 by Eldad
- 我听了感到抱歉。I'm sorry to hear it.This sentence is useful for expressing sorrow regarding news using 抱歉.Tatoeba #5900185 by verdastelo9604, translation #41765 by CK
- 不好意思，我弄错了I'm sorry, I made a mistake
- 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.
