ꯉꯥꯛꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨ
ngakpibiyu
The Manipuri word for 'sorry' is ꯉꯥꯛꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨ (ngakpibiyu).
This phrase is used as an expression of regret or sorrow.
Meaning: expression of regret or sorrow (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
ngakpibiyu
Did you know?
- Because the Meitei script used to write ꯉꯥꯛꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨ was suppressed for a period, many older speakers may recognize the sound of the word but cannot read the characters.
- The structure of ꯉꯥꯛꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨ is built upon roots that relate to the concept of 'accepting' or 'receiving' something, suggesting that an apology is an offering one asks the other to receive.
- Manipuri, a Tibeto-Burman language, uses a complex system of honorifics that can make the act of apologizing a delicate linguistic balancing act to avoid sounding patronizing to elders.
Examples in context
- ꯅꯨꯝꯁꯤꯡꯗꯥ ꯉꯥꯛꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨ꯫numshingda ngakpibiyu.Please do not be angry.
- ꯑꯩꯅꯥ ꯅꯣꯡꯂꯣꯛꯇꯨꯅꯥ ꯉꯥꯛꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨ꯫eina nongloktona ngakpibiyu.Please do not be angry at me for being late.
Example conversation
A woman accidentally steps on a man's foot.
- ꯅꯪꯒꯤꯂꯥꯅꯤ Nangilanbiꯉꯥꯛꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨ, ꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ngakpibiyu, Khoiba.Sorry, Khoiba.
- ꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ Khoibaꯑꯩꯒꯨꯝꯅꯥ ꯐꯅꯥ ꯂꯥꯛꯂꯦ꯫eigumna phana lakle.It's okay.
- ꯅꯪꯒꯤꯂꯥꯅꯤ Nangilanbiꯅꯪꯒꯤ ꯈꯥꯅꯥ ꯅꯨꯉꯥꯏꯕꯥ ꯈꯥꯅꯥ ꯂꯥꯛꯂꯥꯛꯈꯤꯕꯥ?nanggigi khana nungaiba khana laklakhi-ba?Did it hurt a lot?
- ꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ Khoibaꯅꯩꯗꯩ ꯂꯥꯛꯂꯦ꯫neidei lakle.No, it's fine.
