抱歉

Learning Chinese: How to Say "Sorry" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 对不起
Pinyin: duì bù qǐ
Pronunciation: dwei4 bu4 qi3
English Translation: Sorry

Usage:

"对不起 (duì bù qǐ)" is the most common way to say "sorry" in Chinese. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Example:

Chinese: 对不起，我迟到了。
Pinyin: Duì bù qǐ, wǒ chìdào le.
English: Sorry, I'm late.
Variations:

There are a few variations of "对不起 (duì bù qǐ)" that you may hear:

抱歉 (bào qiàn): A more formal way to say "sorry."
不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi): A more polite way to say "sorry," literally meaning "I feel embarrassed."
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "对不起 (duì bù qǐ)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "sorry" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "对不起 (duì bù qǐ)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"对不起 (duì bù qǐ)" is typically used when you have done something wrong or caused inconvenience to someone.
To apologize for a minor mistake, you can say "不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi)."
In some regions of China, people may also use "对不起 (duì bù qǐ)" to express gratitude, similar to "thank you" in English.