Everyday Chinese phrase
Sorry in Chinese: 对不起 & 不好意思
There is not one Chinese word for every kind of “sorry.” 对不起 is a clear apology for a fault, while 不好意思 is often used for a small inconvenience, embarrassment or polite interruption.
Quick answer: 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is a direct apology for a mistake or fault. 不好意思 is softer and often used for minor inconvenience or polite interruption.
The right phrase depends on what happened. A serious mistake, a minor inconvenience and a request to get someone’s attention are different social situations. Using the strongest apology for a small thing can sound unnecessarily formal, while using a light phrase after a real mistake can sound careless.
对不起: a sincere apology
对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is the familiar apology used when someone has made a mistake, caused harm or needs to take responsibility. It is direct and widely understood. In many contexts, 不 is lightly pronounced, so the phrase sounds close to duìbuqǐ rather than three equally stressed syllables.
不好意思: mild apology or excuse me
不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) can mean “sorry,” “excuse me,” “how embarrassing” or “I feel awkward about this.” It is common for small inconveniences, interrupting someone, asking a favour or gently correcting a situation. It can sound softer and more everyday than 对不起.
抱歉 and 打扰一下
抱歉 (bàoqiàn) means to be sorry or to regret something and can sound more formal or written. 打扰一下 (dǎrǎo yīxià) means “excuse me for a moment” and is useful before interrupting or asking a question. 请原谅 (qǐng yuánliàng) is a stronger request for forgiveness and is usually reserved for a more serious context.
How to respond
没关系 (méi guānxi) means “it doesn’t matter” or “no problem.” 没事 (méi shì) is a casual way to say “it’s fine” or “nothing serious.” The response still depends on the relationship and the seriousness of the situation; a real apology may need action or repair, not only a phrase.
Pronunciation and written form
对不起 uses 对 (duì), 不 (bù, often unstressed here) and 起 (qǐ). 不好意思 combines 不, 好, 意 and 思. These expressions are not interchangeable in polite writing even when an English translation uses “sorry” for both. The traditional form of 对不起 is 對不起; 不好意思 remains 不好意思.
Design notes
对不起 is a compact three-character phrase. 不好意思 is four characters and needs enough room for the internal strokes of 意 and 思. Keep the order intact and avoid a highly cursive style that makes the phrase difficult to verify. For a card or public artwork, the wording should match the seriousness of the message.
What an apology phrase does not do
A phrase can acknowledge responsibility, but it does not automatically repair harm, replace an explanation or guarantee forgiveness. The surrounding tone, action and willingness to make things right still matter.
Sorry in Chinese questions
How do you say sorry in Chinese?
对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is a direct apology for a mistake or fault. 不好意思 is a softer everyday phrase for a minor inconvenience, embarrassment or polite interruption.
What is the difference between 对不起 and 不好意思?
对不起 usually takes more responsibility for a fault. 不好意思 often handles a small inconvenience, an interruption or social awkwardness.
What is sorry in traditional Chinese?
对不起 in simplified Chinese becomes 對不起 in traditional Chinese. 不好意思 is written the same in both forms.
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Send the situation, who was affected and whether the message is spoken, written or printed. A reply can explain formality and context limits.
Request a phrase checkBack to the phrases hubApology plus repair
对不起 is only the beginning when something needs fixing
An apology recognizes the problem; it does not repair it. In a shop, workplace or service situation, add a concrete next step after the apology. The exact remedy depends on the damage and the relationship, so do not promise 赔偿 (compensation) unless you have the authority and a clear basis for it.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这是我的错。 | zhè shì wǒ de cuò | This is my fault. | Take responsibility clearly when the mistake is yours. |
| 我会马上处理。 | wǒ huì mǎshàng chǔlǐ | I will handle it immediately. | Promise an action only when you can carry it out. |
| 我帮你换一个。 | wǒ bāng nǐ huàn yí ge | I will replace it for you. | A concrete remedy in a shop or service setting. |
| 我们看看怎么解决。 | wǒmen kànkan zěnme jiějué | Let us see how to solve it. | Use when the remedy still needs to be discussed. |
| 这是我的责任。 | zhè shì wǒ de zérèn | This is my responsibility. | Formal and serious; suitable for workplace contexts. |
Do not use 赔偿 as a casual synonym for “sorry”. It means compensation or damages and raises legal and financial expectations. If the issue is a delayed train or a minor inconvenience, 不好意思 plus a clear statement is usually enough. If money or injury is involved, use precise language and get the appropriate help.
Sympathy is not an apology
“Sorry to hear that” and 节哀 are different from 对不起
English “sorry” also expresses sympathy. Mandarin separates that meaning. If someone has bad news, 听到这个消息我很难过 (tīng dào zhège xiāoxi wǒ hěn nánguò) means “I am sad to hear this news”. It is not an admission of fault.
For a death, 节哀顺变 (jié āi shùn biàn) is a traditional condolence phrase to the bereaved family. It is sensitive and should not be used lightly or as a general “sorry”. When in doubt, a short expression of care and an offer to help is safer than a formula you do not understand.
Questions about apology tone and repair
When should I use 对不起 rather than 不好意思?
Use 对不起 when you have clearly caused harm, inconvenience or a mistake. 不好意思 is lighter and often works for a small interruption, a minor social inconvenience or a request for attention.
Does 抱歉 mean the same as 对不起?
Both are apologies, but 抱歉 often sounds more formal or written. It commonly appears in customer service, email and public statements. 对不起 is direct and personal.
How do I apologize and offer to fix something?
Use a clear structure: apology + fact + action. For example, 对不起，这是我的错。我会马上处理。 This tells the other person what happened and what you will do next.
Is 赔偿 the same as saying sorry?
No. 赔偿 means compensation or damages. It is a financial and sometimes legal term, not a general apology. Use it only when compensation is genuinely being discussed or promised.
How do you reply when someone says 对不起?
没关系 is the standard reply. 没事, 不要紧 and 算了 also work, with 算了 often carrying a trace of reluctance.
Is 抱歉 more formal than 对不起?
抱歉 is often a little lighter or more formal and is common in writing and service situations. 对不起 tends to carry more direct responsibility.
How do you say sorry in traditional Chinese?
对不起 is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese. 抱歉 is also unchanged; the script difference appears in other words in the sentence, not in these phrases.
Does saying sorry guarantee forgiveness?
No. An apology expresses regret or responsibility. Whether it is accepted depends on the situation and the other person, not on the wording alone.
Is 不好意思 less sincere than 对不起?
It is softer and more everyday, not automatically less sincere. It fits minor inconvenience, interruption or embarrassment; 对不起 is clearer for a real fault or harm.
How do I say “sorry to hear that” in Chinese?
Use 听到这个消息我很难过 or 我很遗憾. 对不起 suggests that the speaker did something wrong and is not the natural phrase for sympathy.
What can I say in reply to an apology?
Common replies are 没关系, 没事 and 不要紧. The choice depends on formality and relationship.
Does 抱歉 sound more formal?
Yes. 抱歉 can sound more formal, written or businesslike than 不好意思, while 对不起 is direct and widely understood.
Choosing an apology by severity
Chinese offers several apologies, and the choice signals how serious the situation is. 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is a genuine apology for a mistake or fault. 抱歉 (bàoqiàn) is a slightly lighter or more formal “I’m sorry” and often appears in writing and service settings. 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) is the mild one, used for small inconveniences, interrupting, brushing past someone or a minor slip. 打扰一下 (dǎrǎo yīxià) means “excuse me for a moment” and is about interrupting rather than wrongdoing. Matching the phrase to the offence matters more than the literal translation.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | Sorry | A genuine apology for a mistake or fault |
| 抱歉 | bàoqiàn | I am sorry | Slightly formal; common in writing and service |
| 不好意思 | bù hǎoyìsi | Excuse me / sorry | Mild inconvenience, interrupting, a small slip |
| 打扰一下 | dǎrǎo yīxià | Excuse me for a moment | Interrupting rather than wrongdoing |
| 真的很抱歉 | zhēn de hěn bàoqiàn | I am truly sorry | A more serious apology |
| 是我不好 | shì wǒ bù hǎo | It was my fault | Taking responsibility explicitly |
| 对不起，我迟到了 | duìbuqǐ, wǒ chí dào le | Sorry I am late | Naming the specific problem |
Severity decides the choice, not the literal translation. 不好意思 for a serious mistake can sound too light, while 对不起 for brushing past someone can sound heavier than the moment requires. A specific sentence such as 对不起，我迟到了 is usually stronger than a bare apology because it names what went wrong.
Making the apology concrete
A bare 对不起 can feel thin when something specific has gone wrong. Adding the reason makes the apology land: 对不起，我迟到了 (“sorry, I’m late”), 对不起，我弄错了 (“sorry, I made a mistake”), 抱歉，让你久等了 (“sorry to keep you waiting”). Formal apologies may use 我向你道歉 (“I apologise to you”) or 我对此深感抱歉 (“I am deeply sorry about this”). The fuller the sentence, the more responsibility it usually conveys.
Responding to an apology
没关系 (méi guānxi) means “it doesn’t matter” and is the standard reply. 没事 (méishì) means “it’s nothing,” 不要紧 (bú yàojǐn) means “it’s not serious,” and 算了 (suàn le) means “let it go” and can carry a hint of reluctance. Accepting an apology sincerely often adds a reassurance, such as 下次注意就好 (“just be careful next time”) rather than only 没关系.
Sorry versus excuse me
English uses “sorry” for both apology and mild interruption, but Chinese separates them more clearly. 对不起 belongs to apology and wrongdoing; 不好意思 and 打扰一下 belong to interruption and minor inconvenience. Using 对不起 to squeeze past someone can sound heavier than intended, while using 不好意思 after a real mistake can sound too light. The register, not just the words, is what a learner has to match.
Three levels of apology
Chinese does not use one word for every kind of “sorry.” 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is the clearest apology when the speaker has made a mistake, caused harm or needs to take responsibility. 抱歉 (bàoqiàn) also means to be sorry or to regret something, and it can sound more formal, written or businesslike. 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) is softer and more everyday; it can mean “sorry,” “excuse me,” “how embarrassing” or “I feel awkward about this.” The right choice depends on the size of the problem and the relationship, not on a single English-to-Chinese dictionary match.
When 不好意思 is the natural choice
不好意思 often appears when the speaker interrupts someone, asks a small favour, squeezes past a person, arrives a little late or causes a minor inconvenience. It can also preface a gentle correction or a request: 不好意思，可以帮我一下吗？ (“Sorry, could you help me for a moment?”). It is not automatically a weak apology. In many everyday situations, using the heavy 对不起 for a tiny bump can sound overly dramatic. Conversely, after a serious mistake, 不好意思 alone may sound too light unless the speaker also explains and repairs the problem.
Apology plus repair
A sincere apology often needs more than the phrase. After 对不起, a speaker may explain what happened, ask how to fix it, or state what will be done next. 我不是故意的 (wǒ bù shì gùyì de) means “I didn’t do it on purpose,” but it is not a substitute for responsibility. 我马上处理 (wǒ mǎshàng chǔlǐ) says “I will handle it immediately.” For a serious mistake, the listener may expect action more than repeated words. The phrase and the repair should match the scale of the problem.
“Sorry to hear that” is different
English “sorry” can express sympathy, as in “I’m sorry to hear that.” 对不起 is not the natural phrase for that meaning because it suggests the speaker has done something wrong. A better response is 听到这个消息我很难过 (“I’m very sorry to hear this news”) or 我很遗憾 (“I’m very sorry / I regret to hear it”). This distinction prevents an apology from sounding like an admission of fault when the speaker only means to express sympathy.
Replies, pronunciation and formality
Common replies to an apology are 没关系 (méi guānxi, “it’s okay”), 没事 (méi shì, “no problem”) and 不要紧 (bù yàojǐn, “it doesn’t matter”). 对不起 is often pronounced with a light 不, and 不好意思 also has a light or reduced 不 in connected speech. The written forms are the same in simplified and traditional Chinese for these expressions. In a formal message, 抱歉 may fit better than 不好意思; in a close relationship, the softer phrase may sound more natural. Match the apology to the relationship and the actual harm.
Related everyday phrases
Sorry 对不起 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.