Everyday Chinese phrase
Excuse me in Chinese: 请问, 不好意思 & 借过
English “excuse me” covers several different situations. 请问 introduces a question, 不好意思 gets attention or handles a small inconvenience, 借过 asks to pass, and 对不起 is usually a real apology.
Quick answer: 请问 introduces a question, 不好意思 is a soft excuse me, 打扰一下 means excuse me for interrupting, and 借过 asks to pass.
There is no single Chinese phrase that works exactly like “excuse me” in every context. The right choice depends on whether you are asking for information, interrupting, passing through a crowd, getting someone’s attention or apologising for a mistake.
请问: may I ask?
请问 (qǐngwèn) literally invites a question and is commonly translated as “excuse me, may I ask?” It is natural before asking for directions, information or a price. For example, 请问洗手间在哪里？ means “Excuse me, where is the bathroom?” It is polite without sounding overly apologetic.
不好意思: sorry or excuse me for a small thing
不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) can mean “excuse me,” “sorry,” or “how embarrassing.” It is common when interrupting someone, getting attention, asking a favour or handling a minor inconvenience. It can sound softer and more everyday than 对不起.
打扰一下: excuse me for a moment
打扰一下 (dǎrǎo yīxià) means “excuse me for interrupting” or “sorry to disturb you for a moment.” It is useful before a question, a phone call or a short request. The fuller 不好意思，打扰一下 combines a polite apology and a clear request to interrupt.
劳驾 and 借过
劳驾 (láojià) is a polite “excuse me” used when asking someone to move, help or make way. It can sound slightly traditional or formal. 借过 (jièguò) means “excuse me, let me pass” and is used in crowded spaces, buses, trains and queues. It is not a request for a favour in general.
对不起 is usually a real apology
对不起 is stronger and usually takes responsibility for a mistake, harm or inconvenience. Do not use 对不起 simply to get someone’s attention if 请问 or 不好意思 fits the situation better. Conversely, 不好意思 may sound too light after a serious mistake.
Getting attention in a shop or restaurant
A common sequence is 不好意思，请问…… or 请问一下…… to get attention and ask a question. Calling out 喂 to a stranger can sound abrupt or rude, even though it appears in some informal contexts. Tone and relationship matter.
Pronunciation and written form
请问 is qǐngwèn, 不好意思 is bù hǎoyìsi, 打扰一下 is dǎrǎo yīxià, 劳驾 is láojià and 借过 is jièguò. Traditional forms include 請問, 打擾一下, 勞駕 and 借過; 不好意思 remains the same. Choose the phrase that matches the situation rather than translating every “excuse me” identically.
What it does not mean
不好意思 does not always mean a serious apology, and 借过 is not a general hello. These phrases manage social space and attention. A real mistake still needs a clear apology and, where necessary, an explanation or repair.
Excuse me in Chinese questions
How do you say excuse me in Chinese?
It depends on the situation. 请问 introduces a question, 不好意思 is a soft excuse me or apology, 打扰一下 means excuse me for interrupting, and 借过 asks to pass.
Is 请问 the same as excuse me?
请问 is commonly used before asking a question and often translates as “excuse me, may I ask?” It is not an apology and does not fit every interruption.
How do you get past someone in Chinese?
借过 (jièguò) means “excuse me, let me pass.” 劳驾 can also be used when asking someone to move or make way.
How do you say excuse me to get past someone?
借过 or 让一下 works, often softened as 不好意思，借过 or 麻烦让一下. These are about physical space rather than apology.
How do you get a waiter’s attention in Chinese?
Say 服务员！ in a restaurant, or 你好！ before the question. 老板 is common in small shops. 请问 politely opens a question.
How do you interrupt politely in Chinese?
不好意思，打断一下 or 打扰一下 means “sorry to interrupt.” In a meeting, 我插一句 signals a brief interjection.
Is 对不起 the same as excuse me?
No. 对不起 is a genuine apology for a mistake. For interruption or inconvenience, 不好意思, 打扰一下 or 请问 are more appropriate.
What does 请问 mean?
请问 means “may I ask” and politely opens a question, especially with strangers. 请问，洗手间在哪里？ means “Excuse me, where is the restroom?”
Is 不好意思 the same as 对不起?
No. 不好意思 is lighter and can mean excuse me, my bad or sorry to trouble you. 对不起 is a stronger apology used when the speaker has caused a real problem or mistake.
How do you get someone’s attention politely?
Use 你好，请问一下 or 麻烦问一下. Avoid calling out 喂 to a stranger nearby; 喂 is normally used on the phone and can sound abrupt.
How do you ask someone to move in Chinese?
Say 借过 or 不好意思，让一下. 借过 is short and useful in a crowd; 让一下 is a direct request to make room and sounds softer with 不好意思 or 麻烦.
When should I use 劳驾?
劳驾 is polite and somewhat old-fashioned. It can work when asking for help or passage, but 请问 and 麻烦问一下 are more flexible in modern everyday speech.
What should I avoid saying when interrupting?
Do not use 对不起 just to get attention, do not call a stranger 喂, and do not make a bare 让一下 sound like a command in a formal setting. Add a softener such as 不好意思 or 麻烦.
Need a situation phrase checked?
Send whether you need information, attention, passage or an apology, and describe the setting. A reply can explain the matching phrase.
Request a phrase checkBack to the phrases hubChoose the right interruption
Excuse me is a function, not one fixed phrase
English “excuse me” can mean four different things in Chinese: getting someone’s attention before a question, interrupting a conversation for a moment, asking someone to move, or making a small apology after a minor mistake. Chinese normally chooses a different expression for each function. 请问 is the standard opener before a question, 不好意思 covers a light interruption or mild embarrassment, 打扰一下 announces a brief interruption, 借过 asks to pass, and 对不起 is usually a real apology rather than a way to get attention.
| Situation | Natural Chinese | Pinyin | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ask a stranger a question | 请问 | qǐngwèn | Polite and neutral. It introduces the question: 请问，地铁站怎么走？ |
| Interrupt briefly | 不好意思 / 打扰一下 | bù hǎoyìsi / dǎrǎo yíxià | 不好意思 is softer and very common; 打扰一下 makes the interruption explicit. |
| Ask someone to move | 借过 / 让一下 | jièguò / ràng yíxià | 借过 is compact and works in a crowd; 让一下 is a direct request to make room. |
| Minor bump or mistake | 不好意思 / 对不起 | bù hǎoyìsi / duìbuqǐ | 不好意思 is lighter; 对不起 is stronger and more apology-like. |
| Make a formal request | 劳驾 | láojià | Polite and somewhat old-fashioned; it suits a request for help or passage. |
| Apologise for real harm | 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | Use it when the speaker has caused a problem, not merely to begin a question. |
The tone matters as much as the words. A short 不好意思 with a smile can be polite; the same words delivered flatly can sound impatient. When speaking to someone older or in a formal setting, add 您 or switch to 请问/麻烦问一下 rather than relying on volume or gestures alone.
Shops, transport and online
Getting attention without sounding rude
In a shop or restaurant, start with 你好 or 请问 instead of calling out 喂. 服务员 (waitstaff) is common in service contexts, but it can sound like a job label rather than a personal address; 你好，请问一下 is usually more flexible. In a crowded train or street, 借过 is the fastest way to ask to pass, while 不好意思，让一下 adds a softer apology. If you need to interrupt a meeting or class, 打扰一下，我可以说一句吗？ makes the interruption explicit and asks permission.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好，请问一下。 | nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn yíxià | Hello, may I ask? | A safe opening in a shop, hotel or station. |
| 不好意思，打扰一下。 | bù hǎoyìsi, dǎrǎo yíxià | Sorry to interrupt. | Interrupting a conversation or asking for help. |
| 麻烦问一下。 | máfan wèn yíxià | Sorry to trouble you, may I ask? | Softens a request for information. |
| 借过，谢谢。 | jièguò, xièxie | Excuse me, let me pass. Thank you. | Moving through a crowd or narrow aisle. |
| 不好意思，让一下。 | bù hǎoyìsi, ràng yíxià | Excuse me, could you make room? | Polite but direct request to move. |
| 对不起，我不是故意的。 | duìbuqǐ, wǒ bú shì gùyì de | Sorry, I did not mean to do that. | A real apology after a mistake or bump. |
For email, chat or a phone call, 打扰一下 and 请问 work in writing but need a clear subject and a complete request. A formal message can begin with 您好，冒昧打扰 (hello, sorry to intrude), while a quick question to a colleague can use 方便问一下吗？ (is it convenient to ask?). Do not send only “excuse me” and wait; say what you need in the next sentence.
Common mistakes
Excuse me versus sorry, and what not to say
- Using 对不起 to get attention. 对不起 implies fault or a real apology. For a question, use 请问 or 不好意思.
- Calling a stranger 喂. 喂 is common on the phone, but calling out 喂 to a person nearby can sound abrupt or rude.
- Using 劳驾 everywhere. It is polite but can sound old-fashioned with younger speakers. 请问 and 麻烦问一下 are more flexible.
- Assuming 不好意思 is only an apology. It also works as “excuse me,” “my bad,” or a softener before a request.
- Using 让一下 without a softener in a formal setting. Add 不好意思 or 麻烦 to make the request less abrupt.
- Mixing 请问 with a statement. 请问 introduces a question, not a command. It does not mean “please” in every sentence.
Practice and verification
How to choose and test the phrase
Ask what you are doing before choosing the Chinese: asking for information, interrupting, passing, apologising or requesting a favour. Match the phrase to that function, then add the person you are speaking to and the setting. Read the complete sentence aloud with a native speaker and check whether the politeness level fits. If the setting is formal, use 您, 请问, 麻烦 or 冒昧打扰 rather than simply speaking louder.
Getting past someone: 借过 and 让一下
To move through a crowd or squeeze past someone, Chinese uses 借过 (jièguò, literally “borrow a passage”) and 让一下 (ràng yīxià, “let me through a moment”). 不好意思，借过 or 麻烦让一下 are natural and polite. 借过 on its own is short and common in busy places. These phrases are about physical space, not apology for wrongdoing, which is why 对不起 can sound heavier than needed when you are simply walking past.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 不好意思 | bù hǎoyìsi | Excuse me / sorry to bother you | General attention-getter |
| 请问 | qǐngwèn | May I ask… | Before a question |
| 麻烦你 | máfan nǐ | Sorry to trouble you | Requesting help |
| 借过 | jièguò | Excuse me, let me pass | Moving through a crowd |
| 让一下 | ràng yíxià | Let me through a moment | Physical space |
| 打扰一下 | dǎrǎo yíxià | Sorry to interrupt | Meeting, classroom, quiet setting |
| 劳驾 | láojià | Excuse me / if you please | Formal or traditional, asking a favor |
不好意思 is the most flexible attention-getter, while 对不起 is normally an apology for something that went wrong. 借过 and 让一下 are for physical passage, and 请问 is naturally followed by a question rather than used as a standalone apology.
How to get attention in shops and restaurants
To call a waiter or shop assistant, people often say 服务员！ (fúwùyuán, “attendant”) in a restaurant, or 你好！ followed by the question. 老板 (lǎobǎn, “boss”) is used in small shops. 请问 is the polite opener for a question: 请问，洗手间在哪里？ (“Excuse me, where is the restroom?”). In a crowded restaurant, raising a hand and saying 服务员，买单！ (“attendant, the bill please”) is normal and not considered rude, even though it would sound blunt translated into English.
Excuse me in a meeting or classroom
To interrupt a discussion, 不好意思，打断一下 (“sorry to interrupt”) or 打扰一下 (“excuse me for a moment”) work well. 请问 can introduce a question when a meeting is open for discussion, and 我插一句 (“let me add a word”) signals a brief interjection. The register should match the room: 不好意思 softens a small interruption, while a bare question can sound abrupt in a formal setting.
Excuse me versus sorry, and what not to say
English “excuse me” covers several situations that Chinese separates: 请问 for a question, 不好意思 for a small inconvenience, 借过 for passing, 打扰一下 for interrupting, and 对不起 for a genuine apology. Pushing past someone with a bare 对不起, or interrupting a meeting with a bare 请问 without a softener, can sound slightly off. Choosing the phrase that matches the situation is what makes the utterance natural.
Related everyday phrases
Excuse me 请问 sits among these expressions, but the polite or natural choice still depends on the relationship, time of day and whether the setting is spoken or written.