“Sorry” in Chinese: how to say it and how to write it
Sorry
“Sorry” in Chinese is 对不起, duìbuqǐ, roughly “dway-boo-chee”. It is both “I’m sorry” and “I apologize”, to a friend or to a stranger. Chinese says it when it really is your fault: you’re late, you made a mistake, you let someone down.
What 对不起 is made of
- 对duìto face; right, correct
- 不bùnottoneless in this word
- 起qǐto rise
不起 after a verb means “can’t manage to”. Put together it is roughly “I can’t face you”. How to read it: duì is fourth tone, sharply down; bu is light, with no tone; qǐ is third, low. The pinyin q is not a k: it is close to the “ch” in “cheese”, with a puff of air. More on the word’s own page: 对不起.
- 对不起，我迟到了。duìbuqǐ,wǒchídàolesorry, I’m late
- 对不起，我错了。duìbuqǐ,wǒcuòleI’m sorry, I was wrong
对不起, 不好意思 or 抱歉?
- 对不起duìbuqǐI’m sorrywhen it’s really your fault
- 不好意思bùhǎoyìsisorry, excuse mesmall things
- 抱歉bàoqiànI apologize, I regretformal
In everyday life the one you hear most is 不好意思, literally “embarrassed”. Bumping into someone on the subway, interrupting, running a little late, asking someone to move — all 不好意思, the way English says a quick “sorry”. 对不起 is too heavy for that: it admits real fault. 抱歉 is the word of emails, announcements and customer service; to make it stronger, say 很抱歉 or 真抱歉.
- 不好意思，我来晚了。bùhǎoyìsi,wǒláiwǎnlesorry I’m a bit late
- 真抱歉，我来晚了。zhēnbàoqiàn,wǒláiwǎnleI’m really sorry I’m late
To ask for forgiveness outright — “please forgive me” — use the verb : 请原谅我 (qǐng yuánliàng wǒ). That is no longer a polite formula but a real request, after a serious quarrel or a real wrong.
“Excuse me, can I ask…?”
English “excuse me” also gets a stranger’s attention. Chinese has a separate word for that: , literally “please let me ask”. Opening a question to a passer-by with 对不起 is a common learner mistake: it sounds as if you had already done something wrong.
- 请问，厕所在哪儿？qǐngwèn,cèsuǒzàinǎrexcuse me, where is the restroom?
- 请问，地铁站在哪儿？qǐngwèn,dìtiězhànzàinǎrexcuse me, where is the subway station?
请问 goes at the very start of the sentence. To call a waiter or squeeze past someone, 不好意思 works too.
How to answer an apology
- 没关系méiguānxiit’s OK, never mind
- 没事méishìno problem, it’s finecasual
没关系 is literally “no connection”, as in “it doesn’t matter”: the usual answer to any apology. 没事 is shorter and more relaxed. 不客气 doesn’t fit here — that one answers “thank you”.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “sorry” in Chinese?
“Sorry” in Chinese is 对不起, in pinyin duìbuqǐ.
How do you pronounce 对不起?
对不起 is read duìbuqǐ. The marks over the vowels are the tones: each syllable has its own melody, so listen to the recording on this page and repeat it.
How do you write “sorry” in Chinese characters?
对不起 is 3 characters. What each one means and how the phrase is put together is explained on this page.
What does 对不起 mean?
对不起 (duìbuqǐ) means “sorry”.
Polite phrases from the first lessons
Saying sorry, thanking, asking the way: in the lessons these phrases come up in dialogues and you say them yourself. Free during the beta.
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