{"id":1242,"date":"2021-04-13T08:44:51","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T00:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/?p=1242"},"modified":"2023-08-15T12:52:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T04:52:36","slug":"six-ways-to-say-sorry-in-mandarin-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/six-ways-to-say-sorry-in-mandarin-chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"The Art of Apology: Six Ways to Say ‘Sorry’ in Mandarin Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Apologizing plays a crucial role in all the cultures. In Chinese culture, apologies not only used to express regret and sympathy, but it also is a way to save face and keeps relationships intact. Therefore, apologize is important. Whether we\u2019ve just accidently stepped on someone\u2019s shoe, arrived late for a meeting or heard a bad news, we apologize more often than we could realize. As a result, to learn how to say sorry should be put on the top of the list for beginners when we learning a foreign language. Saying sorry in Chinese is not the same as in English. In fact, there are six major expressions in Chinese indicate to the meaning of sorry. In this post, we are going to take a detailed look at what these phrases are, when they should be used and what exactly they mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. When should we say sorry in Chinese?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is understandable that in different cultures, people do apologize under different situation. In other words, Chinese people do not always apologize for the same thing as people do in other countries. While some of the situations make sense, others can leave foreigners confused about what they apologized for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some situations where an apology is needed in China:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1) When you\u2019ve made a mistake (by accident or not).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2) When you feel sorry for someone. If someone shared a bad news happened to them, such as they got sick or something unfortunate happened to them, just like in English, it\u2019s polite to express your sympathy with an apology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(3) When want to interrupt someone while they are speaking or you need to ask them a question or favor while they are working or on vacation, again like in English, it is common to apologize before and after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(4) When you feel embarrassed about something. For example, if you meet someone that you have met before, but forgot their names, you would make an apology like saying \u201cforgive me\u201d in English. You would say \u201cforgive me, could you remind me again of your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Six ways to say sorry in Chinese<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(1) <\/strong>\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77(du\u00ec b\u00f9 q\u01d0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77 is used mostly in formal situations or for more serious mistakes. Thus, \u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77 should only be used in situations where you are truly feeling regretted and want to ask for forgiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u6211\u8fdf\u5230\u4e86\uff0c\u771f\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77\u3002 (w\u01d2 ch\u00ed d\u00e0o le, zh\u0113n du\u00ec b\u00f9 q\u01d0) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am late, really sorry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77\uff0c\u6211\u628a\u4f60\u7684\u4e66\u5f04\u4e22\u4e86\u3002(Du\u00ec b\u00f9 q\u01d0, w\u01d2 b\u01ce n\u01d0 de sh\u016b n\u00f2ng di\u016b le)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorry, I’ve lost your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77\uff0c\u6211\u5e2e\u4e0d\u4e86\u4f60\u3002(Du\u00ec b\u00f9 q\u01d0, w\u01d2 b\u0101ng b\u00f9 li\u01ceo n\u01d0.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorry, I can`t help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2) <\/strong>\u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d(b\u00f9 h\u01ceo y\u00ec si)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d is used as a milder way to say \u201csorry\u201d in Chinese. This phrase is used particularly in situations where you feel some sort of embarrassment or apologize for minor mistakes. Additionally, this phrase can also mean \u201cexcuse me\u201d, especially when you are disturbing someone and trying to get their attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d\uff0c\u8bf7\u8ba9\u4e00\u4e0b\u3002(B\u00f9 h\u01ceo y\u00ecsi, q\u01d0ng r\u00e0ng y\u012bxi\u00e0.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excuse me, would you mind stepping aside?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d\uff0c\u6253\u6270\u4e00\u4e0b\u3002 (B\u00f9 h\u01ceo y\u00ecsi, d\u01ce r\u01ceo y\u012b xi\u00e0)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excuse me, sorry for the interruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d\uff0c\u4f60\u521a\u624d\u8bf4\u4ec0\u4e48? \u6211\u6ca1\u6709\u542c\u6e05\u3002(B\u00f9 h\u01ceo y\u00ecsi, n\u01d0 g\u0101ng c\u00e1i shu\u014d sh\u00e9n me ? w\u01d2 m\u00e9i y\u01d2u t\u012bng q\u012bng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excuse me, what did you say? I didn’t catch you<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u4e0d\u597d\u610f\u601d\uff0c\u80fd\u63d0\u9192\u6211\u4e00\u4e0b\u4f60\u7684\u540d\u5b57\u5417\uff1f(b\u00f9 h\u01ceo y\u00ec s\u012b \uff0cn\u00e9ng t\u00ed x\u01d0ng w\u01d2 y\u012b xi\u00e0 n\u01d0 de m\u00edng z\u00ec ma\uff1f)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excuse me, could you remind me of your name?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 (3) <\/strong>\u62b1\u6b49(b\u00e0o qi\u00e0n)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word of\u62b1\u6b49means \u201cto apologize\u201d. It is used more like an adjective to describe how you feel. This is the word you use when expressing how sorry you feel for someone. In addition, if we are apologizing to an authority figure and are asking for their forgiveness, we could use this word in a more formal situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u62b1\u6b49\uff0c\u6211\u4eca\u5929\u4e0d\u80fd\u6765\u4e86\u3002(B\u00e0oqi\u00e0n, w\u01d2 j\u012bn ti\u0101n b\u00f9 n\u00e9ng l\u00e1i le.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorry, I cannot come today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u5bf9\u4e8e\u4f60\u5988\u5988\u751f\u75c5\u7684\u4e8b\u60c5\uff0c\u6211\u611f\u5230\u5f88\u62b1\u6b49\u3002(du\u00ec y\u00fa n\u01d0 m\u0101 m\u0101 sh\u0113ng b\u00ecng de sh\u00ec q\u00edng, w\u01d2 g\u01cen d\u00e0o h\u011bn b\u00e0o qi\u00e0n.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am sorry to hear your mother is sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u6211\u5f88\u62b1\u6b49\u542c\u5230\u8fd9\u4e2a\u6d88\u606f \u3002(w\u01d2 h\u011bn b\u00e0o qi\u00e0n t\u012bng d\u00e0o zh\u00e8 ge xi\u0101o xi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am so sorry to hear this news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(4) <\/strong>\u6211\u9519\u4e86(w\u01d2 cu\u00f2 le)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we use the word \u201c\u6211\u9519\u4e86\u201d, indicating that we admit to a mistake. The phrase means \u201cit is my fault\u201d or \u201cit is my mistake\u201d. In other words, use this phrase to take the blame for something went wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\" \u6211\u9519\u4e86\uff0c\u6211\u5fd8\u8bb0\u63d0\u9192\u4f60\u5f00\u4f1a\u4e86\u3002(w\u01d2 cu\u00f2 le \uff0c w\u01d2 w\u00e0ng j\u00ec t\u00ed x\u01d0ng n\u01d0 k\u0101i hu\u00ec le)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s my fault, I forgot to remind to about the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u6211\u9519\u4e86\uff0c\u6211\u628a\u5ba2\u6237\u7684\u8d44\u6599\u843d\u5728\u529e\u516c\u5ba4\u4e86\u3002(w\u01d2 cu\u00f2 le \uff0c w\u01d2 b\u01ce k\u00e8 h\u00f9 de z\u012b li\u00e0o lu\u00f2 z\u00e0i b\u00e0n g\u014dng sh\u00ec le )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s my fault, I left the client\u2019s file in the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phrase can also be used to admit being wrong in an argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\" \u5988\u5988\uff0c\u4eca\u5929\u6211\u9519\u4e86(m\u0101 ma, j\u012bn ti\u0101n w\u01d2 cu\u00f2 le)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mom, I was wrong today\/I made a mistake today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u4eb2\u7231\u7684\uff0c\u4eca\u5929\u6211\u9519\u4e86\uff0c\u6211\u4e0d\u8be5\u53d1\u813e\u6c14 (q\u012bn \u00e0i de \uff0c j\u012bn ti\u0101n w\u01d2 cu\u00f2 le \uff0c w\u01d2 b\u00f9 g\u0101i f\u0101 p\u00ed q\u00ec)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darling, I was wrong today, I shouldn\u2019t lose my tempter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(5) <\/strong>\u8bf7\u89c1\u8c05(q\u01d0ng ji\u00e0n li\u00e0ng)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u8bf7\u89c1\u8c05\u201d is a more modest expression among all the apology words. Generally, it means that you feel that something is not done well enough and hope to get the understanding and forgiveness from other people. It does not really mean that you did something wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u6211\u7684\u4e2d\u6587\u8bf4\u5f97\u4e0d\u597d\uff0c\u8bf7\u89c1\u8c05\u3002(w\u01d2 de zh\u014dng w\u00e9n shu\u014d de b\u00f9 h\u01ceo \uff0c q\u01d0ng ji\u00e0n li\u00e0ng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Chinese is not good, please forgive me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u4eca\u5929\u62db\u5f85\u4e0d\u5468\uff0c\u8bf7\u89c1\u8c05\u3002(j\u012bn ti\u0101n zh\u0101o d\u00e0i b\u00f9 zh\u014du \uff0c q\u01d0ng ji\u00e0n li\u00e0ng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please forgive me for the poor reception today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 (6) <\/strong>\u6211\u4e0d\u662f\u6545\u610f\u7684(w\u01d2 b\u00f9 sh\u00ec g\u00f9 y\u00ec de)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phrase \u201c\u6211\u4e0d\u662f\u6545\u610f\u7684\u201dis used to tell people you have made a mistake or screwed up, but you didn\u2019t do it on purpose. Of course, for many of the mistakes, we don\u2019t make it on purpose; this expression is like an explanation that emphasis on the intention. It also be a supplement phrase after the formal apology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u4f60\u522b\u54ed\u4e86\uff01\u6211\u4e0d\u662f\u6545\u610f\u7684\u3002(n\u01d0 bi\u00e9 k\u016b le\uff01 w\u01d2 b\u00f9 sh\u00ec g\u00f9 y\u00ec de)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Don’t cry! I didn’t mean it!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u6211\u4e0d\u662f\u6545\u610f\u7684\u3002\u4f60\u7684\u8863\u670d\u6ca1\u5f04\u810f\u5427\uff1f(w\u01d2 b\u00f9 sh\u00ec g\u00f9 y\u00ec de. n\u01d0 de y\u012b f\u00fa m\u00e9i n\u00f2ng z\u0101ng ba)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I didn’t do it on purpose. Is you cloth ok? “<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\" \u4f60\u522b\u751f\u6c14\u554a\uff01\u6211\u4e0d\u662f\u6545\u610f\u7684\u3002(n\u01d0 bi\u00e9 sh\u0113ng q\u00ec a\uff01 w\u01d2 b\u00f9 sh\u00ec g\u00f9 y\u00ec de)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Don’t be mad (at me)! I did not do it on purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know when and how to say sorry in Chinese in an appropriate way, let\u2019s take a look how we should respond when someone says sorry to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Phrases that can be used to respond when someone says sorry to us.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All these responses can be used as responses to any of the six apologies, and they don\u2019t depend on formality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1) The most common response to an apology in Chinese is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6ca1\u5173\u7cfb (m\u00e9i gu\u0101n xi) \u2014 \u201cIt\u2019s Okay\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2) Another common response to an apology is to tell someone not to worry about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u522b\u62c5\u5fc3 (bi\u00e9 d\u0101n x\u012bn) \u2014 \u201cDon\u2019t worry about It\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(3) Another way to comfort the person who makes an apology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6ca1\u4e8b (m\u00e9i sh\u00ec) \u2014 \u201cIt\u2019s nothing\u201d or \u201cit\u2019s not a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(4) This phrase is not used so often as a response, it shows a little bit of reluctant to accept the apology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u7b97\u4e86\u5427 (su\u00e0n le ba) \u2014 \u201cForget about it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n