How to say sorry in Chinese
"Sorry" in Chinese is 对不起 (duì bu qǐ). It is built from "face, cannot: I have let you down". 对不起 is for real apologies; for small things like bumping into someone or running late, the lighter 不好意思 is far more common in daily life.
Ways to say sorry
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 对不起 | duì bu qǐ | sorry | The default answer. |
| 不好意思 | bù hǎo yì si | sorry, excuse me | Small slips: being late, bumping someone, asking a favor |
| 真对不起 | zhēn duì bu qǐ | I'm really sorry | A stronger apology for a real mistake that caused trouble |
| 我错了 | wǒ cuò le | I was wrong | Owning up to a partner, friend or family member |
| 抱歉 | bào qiàn | sorry, my apologies | Slightly formal; work, emails and messages |
| 非常抱歉 | fēi cháng bào qiàn | we sincerely apologize | Formal: businesses, customer service and public announcements |
What people say back
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 没关系 | méi guān xi | it's OK, never mind |
| 没事 | méi shì | no worries |
| 不要紧 | bù yào jǐn | it doesn't matter |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 不好意思，我来晚了。 | bù hǎo yì si, wǒ lái wǎn le. | Sorry I'm late. |
| 对不起，我不是故意的。 | duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù shì gù yì de. | I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. |
| 非常抱歉，今天的航班取消了。 | fēi cháng bào qiàn, jīn tiān de háng bān qǔ xiāo le. | We're very sorry, today's flight has been cancelled. |
| 对不起，我把你的杯子打碎了。 | duì bu qǐ, wǒ bǎ nǐ de bēi zi dǎ suì le. | Sorry, I broke your cup. |
The characters in 对不起
Common mistakes
- The 不 in 对不起 is neutral tone: duì bu qǐ.
- 对不起 can sound too heavy for small things. To squeeze past someone or get a waiter's attention, use 不好意思.
- Do not answer an apology with 不客气; that is the reply to thanks. Say 没关系 or 没事.
Related
- Polite phrases in Chinese: 不客气
- Thank you in Chinese: 谢谢
- Please in Chinese: 请
- No in Chinese: 不
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say sorry in Chinese?
对不起 (duì bu qǐ), literally "face, cannot: I have let you down". Other ways: 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si); 真对不起 (zhēn duì bu qǐ); 我错了 (wǒ cuò le).
What is the difference between 对不起 and 不好意思?
对不起 (duì bu qǐ) is a real apology for doing something wrong. 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) is lighter, for small inconveniences, and also means "excuse me".
How do you respond to sorry in Chinese?
Say 没关系 (méi guān xi), "it's OK", or the more casual 没事 (méi shì).
How do you say I'm so sorry in Chinese?
Say 真对不起 (zhēn duì bu qǐ), or 非常抱歉 (fēi cháng bào qiàn) in a formal setting.
GraphChinese teaches these in an order where each word builds on the last, with audio, and only moves on when each one is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level