{"id":181762,"date":"2020-02-17T08:08:38","date_gmt":"2020-02-17T13:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/sorry-in-chinese\/"},"modified":"2025-01-17T00:42:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T05:42:05","slug":"sorry-in-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/chinese\/sorry-in-chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Say Sorry in Chinese (and How to Respond to Apologies)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saying sorry is important, though it’s not always the same between languages<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As a result, it’s only natural that learning how and when to say sorry in Mandarin Chinese is a high priority on a beginner’s checklist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So let’s go over six essential phrases to say sorry in Chinese, <\/strong>when they should be used and exactly what they mean. You’ll also discover how to respond when you’re the recipient of the apology.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]
\n<\/p>\n

How to Say Sorry in Chinese<\/h2>\n

\u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d (b\u00f9 h\u01ceo y\u00ec si) <\/em>\u2014 “Sorry about that”<\/h3>\n

The phrase \u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d literally means “not good meaning” and historically was used to mean “embarrassing.” In English, we can translate this phrase as “Sorry about that!” or “My bad!”\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d is much more casual than the other phrases and is used to apologize for minor offenses.\u00a0<\/strong>Because of this more casual nature, the following sentence would be one said to a friend<\/a> or family member.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u6211\u6765\u665a\u4e86\uff0c\u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d\uff01
\n(w\u01d2 l\u00e1i w\u01cen le, b\u00f9 h\u01ceo y\u00ec si!)
\n<\/em>I came late, sorry about that!<\/p>\n

\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77 (du\u00ec b\u00f9 q\u01d0) <\/em>\u2014 “Sorry”<\/h3>\n

The most popular phrase<\/strong> for saying sorry in Chinese is \u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77. However, it shouldn’t be used as often as \u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d because it carries a bit more weight.<\/p>\n

\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77 is used mostly in formal situations or for more serious offenses and mistakes.<\/strong> To understand how much more serious this phrase is, the literal translation in English is “unworthy.”<\/p>\n

Thus, \u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77 should only be used in situations where you’re truly embarrassed or regretful and want to ask for forgiveness.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u8fd9\u4e2a\u623f\u95f4\u592a\u4e71\u4e86\uff0c\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77\u3002
\n(zh\u00e8 ge f\u00e1ng ji\u0101n t\u00e0i lu\u00e0n le, du\u00ec b\u00f9 q\u01d0.)
\n<\/em>This room is too messy, I’m sorry.<\/p>\n

\u6211\u5fd8\u4e86\u4f60\u7684\u540d\u5b57\uff0c\u771f\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 w\u00e0ng le n\u01d0 de m\u00edng zi, zh\u0113n du\u00ec b\u00f9 q\u01d0.)
\n<\/em>I forgot your name, I’m so sorry.<\/p>\n

\u6211\u7ea6\u4f1a\u8fdf\u5230\u4e86\uff0c\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 yu\u0113 hu\u00ec ch\u00ed d\u00e0o le, du\u00ec b\u00f9 q\u01d0.)
\n<\/em>I’m late for our date, I’m sorry.<\/p>\n

\u62b1\u6b49 (b\u00e0o qi\u00e0n) <\/em>\u2014 “I sincerely apologize”<\/h3>\n

Unlike \u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77 and \u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d, <\/em>the word \u62b1\u6b49 is used more like an adjective<\/strong><\/a> to describe how you feel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the word you use when expressing how sorry you feel for someone, or if you’re apologizing to an authority figure and are begging for their forgiveness. In English, the literal meaning of \u62b1\u6b49 is “to hold regret.”<\/p>\n

Typically, \u62b1\u6b49 is used in formal situations.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u6211\u5f88\u62b1\u6b49\u542c\u5230\u8fd9\u4e2a\u6d88\u606f\uff01
\n(w\u01d2 h\u011bn b\u00e0o qi\u00e0n t\u012bng d\u00e0o zh\u00e8 ge xi\u0101o xi!)
\n<\/em>I’m so sorry to hear this news!<\/p>\n

\u6211\u5f00\u4f1a\u8fdf\u5230\u4e86\uff0c\u771f\u62b1\u6b49\uff01
\n(w\u01d2 k\u0101i hu\u00ec ch\u00ed d\u00e0o le, zh\u0113n b\u00e0o qi\u00e0n!)
\n<\/em>I was late for the meeting, sincere apologies!<\/p>\n

\u662f\u6211\u7684\u9519 (sh\u00ec w\u01d2 de cu\u00f2) <\/em>\u2014 “It’s my fault”<\/h3>\n

If you really want to impress native speakers with your Chinese skills<\/a>, whip out the phrase \u662f\u6211\u7684\u9519 the next time you need to admit to a mistake.<\/p>\n

The phrase literally means “it’s my fault” or “it’s my mistake” and is used to admit one’s faults.<\/strong> In other words, use this phrase to take the blame for something that’s gone wrong.<\/p>\n

But that’s not the only way \u662f\u6211\u7684\u9519 is used. The phrase can also express empathy,<\/strong> and it’s used among friends and family.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u8fd9\u4e2a\u996d\u592a\u96be\u5403\u4e86\uff0c\u662f\u6211\u7684\u9519\uff01
\n(zh\u00e8 ge f\u00e0n t\u00e0i n\u00e1n ch\u012b le, sh\u00ec w\u01d2 de cu\u00f2!)
\n<\/em>This food tastes so gross, it’s my fault!<\/p>\n

\u4f60\u7684\u6905\u5b50\u574f\u4e86\uff0c\u662f\u6211\u7684\u9519\uff01
\n(n\u01d0 de y\u01d0 zi hu\u00e0i le, sh\u00ec w\u01d2 de cu\u00f2!)
\n<\/em>Your chair is broken, it’s my fault!<\/p>\n

\u6211\u9519\u4e86 (w\u01d2 cu\u00f2 le) <\/em>\u2014 “I was wrong”<\/h3>\n

The word \u9519 (cu\u00f2) <\/em>means “to be wrong” or “to make a mistake,” so this phrase literally means “I was wrong” or “I was mistaken.”<\/p>\n

In Chinese, \u6211\u9519\u4e86 is typically used by children when apologizing to parents, a girlfriend or boyfriend apologizing to their partner or a spouse apologizing to their spouse.<\/p>\n

Similar to \u662f\u6211\u7684\u9519, use the phrase \u6211\u9519\u4e86 to take ownership of doing something wrong. <\/strong>It can also be used to admit being wrong in an argument.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u5988\u5988\uff0c\u4eca\u5929\u6211\u9519\u4e86\u3002
\n(m\u0101 ma, j\u012bn ti\u0101n w\u01d2 cu\u00f2 le.)
\n<\/em>Mom, I was wrong today\/I made a mistake today.<\/p>\n

\u6211\u5077\u4e86\u4f60\u7684\u94b1\u5305\uff0c\u6211\u9519\u4e86\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 t\u014du le n\u01d0 de qi\u00e1n b\u0101o, w\u01d2 cu\u00f2 le.)
\n<\/em>I stole your wallet, I did wrong.<\/p>\n

\u662f\u6211\u4e0d\u5bf9 (sh\u00ec w\u01d2 b\u00f9 du\u00ec)<\/em> \u2014 “It’s my bad”<\/h3>\n

The phrase \u662f\u6211\u4e0d\u5bf9 literally means “I was not correct” and is used in similar situations as \u6211\u9519\u4e86 and \u662f\u6211\u7684\u9519.<\/p>\n

It’s similar to saying “it’s my bad” or “that’s my fault” in English, and is used to express feeling regretful or guilty for making a mistake big or small.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u90a3\u65f6\u5019\u662f\u6211\u4e0d\u5bf9\u3002
\n(n\u00e0 sh\u00ed hou sh\u00ec w\u01d2 b\u00f9 du\u00ec.)
\n<\/em>That time was my bad.<\/p>\n

How to Respond When Someone Says Sorry in Chinese<\/h2>\n

Now you know how to say sorry in Chinese. But what about when someone says sorry to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Imagine if someone were to step on your foot, take up your time or spill orange juice on you in a caf\u00e9. They say sorry in Chinese, and you completely understand them<\/a>!<\/p>\n

…But you have no idea what to say back. Awkward!<\/p>\n

Luckily, we’re here to save you from that dreadful situation. Learning how to respond to an apology is as easy as learning how to make one. Plus, each of these responses can be used interchangeably,<\/strong> as they don’t depend on formality.<\/p>\n

\u6ca1\u5173\u7cfb (m\u00e9i gu\u0101n xi)<\/em> \u2014 “It’s okay”<\/h3>\n

This is the most common response to an apology in Chinese<\/strong> and translates as “It’s okay.” It literally means “don’t lose face” and is most commonly paired with \u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77.<\/p>\n

\u522b\u62c5\u5fc3 (bi\u00e9 d\u0101n x\u012bn)<\/em> \u2014 “Don’t worry about it”<\/h3>\n

Just like in English, a common response to an apology is to tell someone not to worry about it.<\/strong> The phrase literally means “don’t worry” and is used as a response to any of the six apologies.<\/p>\n

\u6ca1\u4e8b (m\u00e9i sh\u00ec) <\/em>\u2014 “It’s nothing”<\/h3>\n

Another way we can translate this is “It’s not a big deal.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u6ca1\u4e8b is a useful phrase to learn because it can also serve as a response to:<\/p>\n