How To Say Sorry In Chinese
Learn the most useful ways to apologize in simplified Chinese: 道歉 dàoqiàn.
From a quick “my bad” to a serious apology, these phrases help you sound natural instead of blurting out one dramatic line for every tiny mistake. Because yes, not every dropped chopstick needs courtroom-level regret.
If you only memorize one Chinese apology, make it 对不起 duìbuqǐ. It means “sorry,” and it works in many situations. But native speakers do not use it for absolutely everything. Sometimes 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi sounds softer, more natural, and less like you just confessed to a crime.
Below, you will learn when to use each apology, how polite it sounds, and what to say in real life. Every key phrase comes with simplified Chinese, pinyin, English meaning, and example sentences you can actually use.
The Fastest Way To Sound More Natural
Use 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi for small, everyday situations: bumping into someone, asking someone to move, showing up a bit late, or feeling a little awkward. Use 对不起 duìbuqǐ when the apology is more direct or more serious. Tiny mistake? Go lighter. Bigger mistake? Bring out the stronger line.
Core Sorry Phrases In Chinese
对不起 duìbuqǐ
Meaning: sorry; I’m sorry
Use It For: clear apologies, real mistakes, more serious situations
Example: 对不起，我来晚了。
duìbuqǐ, wǒ lái wǎn le.
I’m sorry, I arrived late.
不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi
Meaning: sorry; excuse me; embarrassed
Use It For: casual apologies, getting attention, small social friction
Example: 不好意思，借过一下。
bù hǎoyìsi, jièguò yíxià.
Excuse me, let me pass.
抱歉 bàoqiàn
Meaning: sorry; apologize
Use It For: polite speech, writing, formal messages
Example: 很抱歉，让你久等了。
hěn bàoqiàn, ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le.
I’m very sorry to have kept you waiting.
我错了 wǒ cuò le
Meaning: I was wrong
Use It For: admitting fault directly
Example: 对不起，我错了。
duìbuqǐ, wǒ cuò le.
I’m sorry, I was wrong.
失礼了 shīlǐ le
Meaning: pardon my manners; excuse my rudeness
Use It For: formal or old-fashioned situations, polite etiquette
Example: 刚才失礼了。
gāngcái shīlǐ le.
Pardon my rudeness just now.
让你久等了 ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le
Meaning: sorry to keep you waiting
Use It For: arriving late or making someone wait
Example: 不好意思，让你久等了。
bù hǎoyìsi, ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
When To Use Each One
Think of these apologies on a scale from light to strong:
- 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi = light, casual, social, very common
- 对不起 duìbuqǐ = direct and stronger
- 抱歉 bàoqiàn = polite, formal, often used in customer service or writing
- 我错了 wǒ cuò le = admitting you were wrong, not just regretting the outcome
A good rule is this: if the mistake is small and human, 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi often sounds better. If the mistake hurt someone, caused trouble, or needs a real apology, 对不起 duìbuqǐ is safer.
Useful Sorry Phrases With Real-Life Sentences
1. 对不起 duìbuqǐ — sorry
对不起，我不是故意的。
duìbuqǐ, wǒ bú shì gùyì de.
I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose.
2. 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi — sorry; excuse me
不好意思，我打错电话了。
bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ dǎ cuò diànhuà le.
Sorry, I dialed the wrong number.
3. 很抱歉 hěn bàoqiàn — very sorry
很抱歉，今天不能来了。
hěn bàoqiàn, jīntiān bù néng lái le.
I’m very sorry, I can’t come today.
4. 我错了 wǒ cuò le — I was wrong
我错了，我以后会注意。
wǒ cuò le, wǒ yǐhòu huì zhùyì.
I was wrong. I’ll be more careful in the future.
5. 是我的错 shì wǒ de cuò — it’s my fault
这件事是我的错。
zhè jiàn shì shì wǒ de cuò.
This was my fault.
6. 让你久等了 ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le — sorry to keep you waiting
路上堵车了，让你久等了。
lùshang dǔchē le, ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le.
There was traffic on the way, sorry to keep you waiting.
7. 给你添麻烦了 gěi nǐ tiān máfan le — sorry for causing you trouble
这次真的给你添麻烦了。
zhè cì zhēn de gěi nǐ tiān máfan le.
I really caused you trouble this time.
8. 打扰一下 dǎrǎo yíxià — excuse me; sorry to bother you
打扰一下，请问地铁站怎么走？
dǎrǎo yíxià, qǐngwèn dìtiě zhàn zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to the subway station?
9. 借过一下 jièguò yíxià — excuse me, let me pass
不好意思，借过一下。
bù hǎoyìsi, jièguò yíxià.
Excuse me, let me get through.
10. 真不好意思 zhēn bù hǎoyìsi — I’m really sorry
真不好意思，我忘了回复你。
zhēn bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ wàng le huífù nǐ.
I’m really sorry, I forgot to reply to you.
11. 实在抱歉 shízài bàoqiàn — truly sorry
实在抱歉，给您带来不便。
shízài bàoqiàn, gěi nín dàilái bùbiàn.
We are truly sorry for the inconvenience.
12. 请原谅我 qǐng yuánliàng wǒ — please forgive me
请原谅我，我以后不会再这样了。
qǐng yuánliàng wǒ, wǒ yǐhòu bú huì zài zhèyàng le.
Please forgive me. I won’t do this again.
Mini Patterns You Can Reuse
| Pattern | Meaning | Example ZH | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 对不起 duìbuqǐ + reason | Direct apology | 对不起，我迟到了。 | duìbuqǐ, wǒ chídào le. | Sorry, I’m late. |
| 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi + request | Soft apology before asking | 不好意思，请再说一遍。 | bù hǎoyìsi, qǐng zài shuō yí biàn. | Sorry, please say it again. |
| 让你……了 ràng nǐ… le | Sorry for making you… | 让你担心了。 | ràng nǐ dānxīn le. | Sorry for making you worry. |
| 给你添麻烦了 gěi nǐ tiān máfan le | Sorry for causing trouble | 给你添麻烦了。 | gěi nǐ tiān máfan le. | Sorry for troubling you. |
| 是我的错 shì wǒ de cuò | It was my fault | 这件事是我的错。 | zhè jiàn shì shì wǒ de cuò. | This was my fault. |
Common Situations And The Best Apology
| Situation | Best Phrase | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| You bump into someone | 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi | Light, quick, natural |
| You arrive late | 对不起 duìbuqǐ / 让你久等了 ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le | Direct and polite |
| You ask someone to move | 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi / 借过一下 jièguò yíxià | Softens the interruption |
| You made a real mistake at work | 抱歉 bàoqiàn / 对不起 duìbuqǐ | More serious and professional |
| You want to admit fault clearly | 我错了 wǒ cuò le / 是我的错 shì wǒ de cuò | Shows responsibility |
| You caused inconvenience | 给你添麻烦了 gěi nǐ tiān máfan le | Very natural for trouble caused to others |
Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes
- Using 对不起 duìbuqǐ for every tiny thing.
It is not wrong, but it can sound heavier than needed. In daily life, 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi is often smoother. - Using 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi for a serious apology.
If you really hurt someone or made a major mistake, go with 对不起 duìbuqǐ or 很抱歉 hěn bàoqiàn. - Forgetting to add the reason.
A short reason makes your Chinese sound more complete: 对不起，我忘了。
duìbuqǐ, wǒ wàng le.
Sorry, I forgot. - Not admitting fault when fault matters.
我错了 wǒ cuò le or 是我的错 shì wǒ de cuò can be stronger than just saying sorry.
Quick Practice
Pick the best apology for each situation.
- You step on someone’s foot on the subway.
Best Answer: 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi - You forgot an important meeting.
Best Answer: 对不起 duìbuqǐ / 很抱歉 hěn bàoqiàn - You made your friend wait 20 minutes.
Best Answer: 不好意思，让你久等了。
bù hǎoyìsi, ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le. - You want to say “It was my fault.”
Best Answer: 是我的错 shì wǒ de cuò - You need to pass through a crowded row.
Best Answer: 不好意思，借过一下。
bù hǎoyìsi, jièguò yíxià.
Try reading the full sentence aloud, not just the single word. That is how you stop sounding like a flashcard with opinions.
Quick Reference Summary
- 对不起 duìbuqǐ = sorry, stronger and more direct
- 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi = sorry / excuse me, lighter and very common
- 抱歉 bàoqiàn = sorry, polite and formal
- 我错了 wǒ cuò le = I was wrong
- 是我的错 shì wǒ de cuò = it’s my fault
- 让你久等了 ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le = sorry to keep you waiting
- 给你添麻烦了 gěi nǐ tiān máfan le = sorry for causing you trouble
- 借过一下 jièguò yíxià = excuse me, let me pass
Final Yak Box
If you remember only two phrases, make them 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi and 对不起 duìbuqǐ. Those two cover a huge amount of daily life. Then add 我错了 wǒ cuò le when you need to admit fault and 让你久等了 ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le when you make someone wait. That is already a solid apology toolkit, and thankfully much more useful than memorizing ten poetic ways to suffer beautifully.
FAQ: How To Say Sorry In Chinese
Is 对不起 duìbuqǐ always okay?
Yes, but it can sound a bit strong for tiny everyday moments. For casual “excuse me” situations, 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi often sounds more natural.
What is the most polite way to apologize?
抱歉 bàoqiàn and 很抱歉 hěn bàoqiàn sound polite and professional, especially in formal speech or messages.
How do I say “It was my fault” in Chinese?
Say 是我的错 shì wǒ de cuò.
How do I say “Sorry to keep you waiting” in Chinese?
Say 让你久等了 ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le.
