How to Say “I’m Sorry” in Chinese: Meanings, Phrases & Examples

What Is “I’m Sorry” in Chinese?

The phrase “I’m sorry” in Chinese is primarily translated as 对不起 (duì bù qǐ), which directly means “I am sorry” or “I apologize.” 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) is the standard Mandarin expression used when someone wants to apologize for a mistake, inconvenience, or action that affects another person.

Chinese speakers also use other apology expressions depending on the situation, including 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si, “sorry / excuse me”) for small inconveniences and 抱歉 (bào qiàn, “I apologize”) for more formal situations. Choosing the right phrase helps Chinese learners sound more natural and understand the difference between casual and serious apologies.

How Do You Say “I’m Sorry” in Chinese?

对不起 (duì bù qǐ) — “I’m Sorry / I Apologize”

对不起 (duì bù qǐ) is the most common Mandarin phrase for a direct apology.

The phrase consists of three characters:

Together, 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) is understood as an apology expression meaning:

“I’m sorry.”
“I apologize.”

Although the literal meaning of the characters does not translate word-for-word into English, the phrase functions as a complete apology in modern Mandarin.

When Do Chinese Speakers Use 对不起 (duì bù qǐ)?

对不起 (duì bù qǐ) is used when the speaker accepts responsibility for something wrong or harmful.

Common situations include:

• Making a mistake

Example:

对不起，我错了。
Duì bù qǐ, wǒ cuò le.
I’m sorry, I was wrong.

• Hurting someone’s feelings

Example:

对不起，让你难过了。
Duì bù qǐ, ràng nǐ nán guò le.
I’m sorry for making you feel sad.

• Being late or causing inconvenience

Example:

对不起，我迟到了。
Duì bù qǐ, wǒ chí dào le.
I’m sorry, I’m late.

How Do You Use 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) in Chinese?

不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) — “Sorry / Excuse Me”

不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) is one of the most common everyday expressions for minor apologies and polite interactions.

Unlike 对不起 (duì bù qǐ), 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) does not always mean admitting a serious mistake.

It is often used when:

• asking someone for help;
• interrupting someone;
• passing by someone;
• causing a small inconvenience.

Examples:

不好意思，可以问一下吗？
Bù hǎo yì si, kě yǐ wèn yí xià ma?
Excuse me, may I ask something?

不好意思，我拿错了。
Bù hǎo yì si, wǒ ná cuò le.
Sorry, I took the wrong one.

Cultural Note: Why Is 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) So Common?

不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) literally contains the idea of “feeling embarrassed” or “feeling不好 (not good) about something.”

The expression often softens social interactions because it shows awareness that another person may have been inconvenienced.

For Chinese learners, 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) is especially useful in daily conversations because it can function as both:

• “sorry”
• “excuse me”
• “I feel a little embarrassed”

depending on the context.

How Do You Use 抱歉 (bào qiàn) in Chinese?

抱歉 (bào qiàn) — “I Apologize”

抱歉 (bào qiàn) is a more formal Chinese apology expression that means “I apologize” or “I’m sorry.”

Compared with 对不起 (duì bù qǐ), 抱歉 (bào qiàn) often sounds more professional and is commonly used in situations where someone needs to express responsibility politely.

The phrase consists of:

• 抱 (bào) — hold, carry
• 歉 (qiàn) — regret, apology

Together, 抱歉 (bào qiàn) expresses a feeling of regret or apology.

When Should You Use 抱歉 (bào qiàn)?

• Professional communication

Example:

抱歉给您带来了不便。
Bào qiàn gěi nín dài lái le bù biàn.
We apologize for the inconvenience.

This type of sentence is common in customer service, workplace communication, and formal notices.

• Formal refusals

Example:

抱歉，我不能参加这次活动。
Bào qiàn, wǒ bù néng cānjiā zhè cì huódòng.
I’m sorry, I cannot attend this event.

Here, 抱歉 (bào qiàn) expresses politeness rather than admitting a mistake.

What Is the Difference Between 对不起 (duì bù qǐ), 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si), and 抱歉 (bào qiàn)?

Chinese learners often translate all three expressions as “sorry,” but native speakers choose them according to the situation.

How Do Chinese People Express Apologies in Daily Life?

Are Chinese Apologies Always Direct?

Chinese speakers may express apologies through different levels of politeness instead of always using a direct apology phrase.

For example:

• Direct apology:

对不起，我忘记了。
Duì bù qǐ, wǒ wàng jì le.
I’m sorry, I forgot.

• Softer acknowledgment:

不好意思，我刚刚没注意。
Bù hǎo yì si, wǒ gāng gāng méi zhù yì.
Sorry, I didn’t notice just now.

• Formal responsibility:

对此我们深表歉意。
Duì cǐ wǒ men shēn biǎo qiàn yì.
We sincerely apologize for this.

(深表歉意 shēn biǎo qiàn yì is a formal phrase often seen in official statements or announcements.)

What Are Common Mistakes When Saying Sorry in Chinese?

Mistake 1: Using 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) for Every Situation

对不起 (duì bù qǐ) is correct, but it may sound too serious for very small situations.

Example:

Someone accidentally walks in front of you:

Natural:

不好意思。
Bù hǎo yì si.
Excuse me.

Less natural:

对不起。
Duì bù qǐ.

Both are understandable, but the second sounds like a stronger apology.

Mistake 2: Thinking 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) Only Means “Embarrassed”

Although 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) can describe feeling embarrassed, it is also one of the most common everyday apology phrases.

Example:

不好意思，打扰一下。
Bù hǎo yì si, dǎ rǎo yí xià.
Sorry to bother you.

Mistake 3: Confusing 道歉 (dào qiàn) With Saying “Sorry”

道歉 (dào qiàn) means “to apologize” and is usually a verb describing the action of apologizing.

Characters:

• 道 (dào) — express, state
• 歉 (qiàn) — apology, regret

Example:

他向老师道歉了。
Tā xiàng lǎo shī dào qiàn le.
He apologized to the teacher.

Unlike 对不起 (duì bù qǐ), 道歉 (dào qiàn) usually describes the act of apologizing rather than being the apology phrase itself.

Related Chinese Expressions About Apologies

FAQ About “I’m Sorry” in Chinese

1. What is “I’m sorry” in Chinese?

对不起 (duì bù qǐ).

对不起 (duì bù qǐ) is the standard Mandarin phrase for “I’m sorry” and is used when someone wants to apologize for a mistake, inconvenience, or action that affected another person.

2. Is 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) the only way to say sorry in Chinese？

No.

Chinese has several apology expressions with different levels of meaning. 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) is often used for small inconveniences or “excuse me,” while 抱歉 (bào qiàn) is commonly used for more formal apologies.

3. Is 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) more common than 对不起 (duì bù qǐ)?

It depends on the situation.

不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) is very common in daily conversations because it can soften small social interactions, such as interrupting someone, asking for help, or causing minor inconvenience. 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) is stronger and usually shows clearer responsibility for a mistake.

4. Is 抱歉 (bào qiàn) more formal than 对不起 (duì bù qǐ)?

Yes.

抱歉 (bào qiàn) often appears in workplace communication, customer service messages, and formal announcements. It expresses regret politely without always implying a serious personal mistake.

Conclusion: Learn the Natural Ways to Say “Sorry” in Chinese

The most direct Mandarin translation of “I’m sorry” is 对不起 (duì bù qǐ), but natural Chinese communication requires choosing the right expression for the situation.

Remember these key differences:

• 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) — “I’m sorry” for mistakes, responsibility, or serious apologies.
• 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) — “Sorry / excuse me” for daily interactions and small inconveniences.
• 抱歉 (bào qiàn) — “I apologize” for formal or professional situations.
• 道歉 (dào qiàn) — “to apologize,” describing the action of making an apology.

Learning these differences helps Chinese learners communicate more naturally instead of translating English expressions word-for-word.

If you want your child to build practical Mandarin communication skills, WuKong Education provides structured online Chinese classes for young learners, helping students improve vocabulary, speaking confidence, and real-world conversation skills through interactive lessons.

Feifei | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Feifei graduated from Peking University with a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature and has 5 years of experience in Chinese language education. With a strong academic background in Chinese language and literature, she understands the learning needs of Chinese learners and is skilled at teaching in a professional, clear, and approachable way. Drawing on her extensive teaching experience, Feifei is committed to helping more learners understand the Chinese language and culture with greater ease and confidence.