Updated on December 27, 2022
Sorry is one of the most commonly used English words. It generally reflects the feeling of sorrow or sympathy. Mandarin Chinese offers unique phrases to express the meaning of sorry.
Let me ask you: do you know how to say sorry in Mandarin Chinese? Do you know how to apologize using Chinese phrases?
Welcome to Ming Mandarin’s free online Mandarin Chinese lessons. In this lesson, we will learn how to say sorry in Chinese.
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How to Say Sorry in Mandarin Chinese?
Well, there are three most common ways to say sorry in Chinese. Let’s discover each of them!
#1 Sorry: Common Apologies
Sorry: 抱歉 (bào qiàn)
When to use 抱歉 (bào qiàn)?
- If you are 5 minutes late to your work, you can say 抱歉 (bào qiàn) to your boss.
- If your friend invites you for a dinner, and you don’t want to attend, you can say 抱歉 (bào qiàn) to your friend.
#2 Sorry: Mild Way of Saying Sorry
Sorry: 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si)
When to use 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si)? It can be used in the following situations:
- If you want to ask someone for a help, such as while asking directions
- If you are stuck in a crowd, and wish to pass through
- If you make a small mistake
- You can use it even if it’s not your fault (a salesperson can say 不好意思 to the customer if the item is out of stock)
#3 Sorry: When You Feel Super Sorry
Sorry: 对不起 (duìbuqǐ)
When to use 对不起 (duìbuqǐ)?
对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is the highest form of sorry. It represents the deepest apology one can offer.
For example, if you make a big mistake, you can say:
- Sorry, it’s my mistake
- 对不起, 我错了
- duìbuqǐ, wǒ cuòle
It’s worth mentioning that 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is quite formal in nature. In case you make a big mistake, it’s recommended to sincerely apologize with 对不起 (duìbuqǐ).
Hierarchy of Apologies
抱歉 (bào qiàn) < 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) << 对不起 (duìbuqǐ)
Well, people rarely make big mistakes, so the use of 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is rather uncommon in China.
Further, since 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) ranks the highest in the hierarchy, so Chinese people rarely use this phrase. No wonder, some people say that the Chinese never apologize. 🙂
Further Readings
- Lesson 1 (Level 1): Common Mandarin Chinese Verbs with Examples
- Lesson 1 (Level 2): How To Say “To Think” With 以为 In Chinese?
- Lesson 1 (Level 3): Learn Must Know Famous Chinese Idioms
- Lesson 1 (Level 4): 2 Must Know Famous Ancient Chinese Poems
- Lesson 1 (Level 5): Chinese Reading Practice with Pinyin & English