Useful Apology Words in Chinese, What Are They?

| 靠谱的中文道歉用语有哪些？

Apology Words in Common

常见的道歉语

 1. 对不起 （Duì Bù QǏ）

The formal way to apologize for guilt in Chinese.  Both written or oral communications are available.

十分正式地道歉，用于表示真正的内疚，书面和口语皆适用。

E.g.    Sorry! It’s my fault.

例如：对不起！我错了！

As for the feelings of Chinese people, 对不起（Duì Bù QǏ）is one of the most sincere and formal phrases for apologizing to others. It is more likely to be used on serious occasions or big mistakes.

对中国人的感受来说，对不起表达歉意最诚恳和正式，但也更适合严肃的场合，以及程度严重的错误。

2. 不好意思（Bù Hǎo Yì Sī）

It is a very common expression for apologies, used in oral communications only. It is used quite casual, with a relatively light tone of speaking.

仅口语适用，是生活中常用的致歉语。用起来比较随意，语气相对较轻。

不好意思（Bù Hǎo Yì Sī）is often used to express the smallest, lowest degree of apologies or that caused by little small interference in daily life.

不好意思通常用来表达最初级的歉意或对生活中一些小事造成的歉意。

For example, it can be used when non-intentional troubles brought, ignorance or interfere with others.

比如无意影响到他人、忽略或干扰到他人而产生的歉意。

It can be used at the beginning of a sentence, similar to “Excuse me…”

既可用在一句话的开头，类似“Excuse me”.

E.g.    Excuse me. May I ask you a question?

例如：不好意思，打扰一下。我能请教您一个问题吗？

Or it can also be used alone in questions, like “Pardon? ”or ”Pardon me.”

也可以单独在疑问句里使用，类似“Pardon？” 或“Pardon me”.

E.g.    Pardon? Could you repeat it?

例如：不好意思，能再说一遍吗？

3.  抱歉（Bào Qiàn）

Both written or oral communications are available. But the degree of apologies it expressed is less than 对不起 （Duì Bù QǏ）.

书面和口语皆适用。但表达歉意的程度不及对不起。

The meaning of each Chinese character is like 抱=抱以 (similar to give or express), 歉=歉意 (apologies)

拆开来的中文字面含义分别是“抱=抱以；歉=歉意”。

In comparison to 不好意思(Bù Hǎo Yì Sī),  抱歉(Bào Qiàn) is a more formal and elegant speaking phrase.

相对于不好意思，抱歉在口语表达上显得更文雅一点。

Chinese Adverbs of Degree + Apology Words，for example:

程度副词 + 道歉语， 举例如下：

4. 十分对不起你 (Shí Fēn Duì Bù Qǐ Nǐ )、十分抱歉 (Shí Fēn Bào Qiàn)、十分不好意思 (Shí Fēn Bù Hǎo Yì Sī) |  So Sorry

5. 很对不起你 (Hěn Duì Bù Qǐ Nǐ)、 很抱歉 (Hěn Bào Qiàn)、 很不好意思 (Hěn Bù Hǎo Yì Sī) | Quite Sorry

6. 非常对不起你 (Fēi Cháng Duì Bù Qǐ Nǐ)、非常抱歉 (Fēi Cháng Bào Qiàn)、非常不好意思 (Fēi Cháng Bù Hǎo Yì Sī) | Very Sorry

7. 真的很对不起你 (Zhēn De Hěn Duì Bù Qǐ Nǐ)、真的很抱歉 (Zhēn De Hěn Bào Qiàn)、真的很不好意思 (Zhēn De Hěn Bù Hǎo Yì Sī) | So terribly sorry, or Really sorry, or Genuinely sorry 

8. 太对不起你了 (Tài Duì Bù Qǐ Nǐ Le)、太抱歉了 (Tài Bào Qiàn Le)、太不好意思了 (Tài Bù Hǎo Yì Sī Le) | Too Sorry

Those Chinese adverbs of degree often using together with apologies,  usually include 十分(Shí Fēn), 很(Hěn)，非常(Fēi Cháng)，真的很(Zhēn de hěn)，太…了(Tài…le).

常在道歉语中一起联用的程度副词，包括：十分、很、非常、真的很、太。

Those degree adverbs can be randomly combined with different apology words to emphasize the degree and tone of apology, which helps make your apologies more sincere and acceptable.

这样的程度副词可以和道歉语随机组合，用来加强道歉的程度和语气，表达更诚挚的歉意。

However, in Chinese, such degree adverbs must be used as modifiers in front of the apology words, in order to enhance and emphasize the apology.

但在中文里，这样的程度副词必须用在道歉语的前面，作用是修饰强调道歉语。

9. 道歉 (Dào Qiàn) / 致歉 (Zhì Qiàn)

Both 道(Dào) and 致(Zhì) are verbs like make, while 歉(Qiàn) is a noun, equal to Apology.

道和致是动词（类似Make），歉是名词（等同于Apology）。

Both 道歉(Dào Qiàn) or 致歉(Zhì Qiàn) mainly emphasizes the behavior of apologizing.

道歉(Dào Qiàn)或致歉(Zhì Qiàn)重点强调的都是道歉这一行为。

Add a subject in front of it, for example, 我道歉(Wǒ dào qiàn), similar to the meaning that I apologize.

若加上主语，例如我道歉，含义等同于I apologize。

Then add an object, for example, 我对（给/向）你道歉(Wǒ duì / gěi / xiàng ni dào qiàn), similar to the meaning that I apologize to you.

若再加上宾语，例如我对（给/向）你道歉，含义等同于I apologize for you.

The difference is that in Chinese, 道歉(Dào Qiàn) 或 致歉(Zhì Qiàn) can not be used completely replacing of Sorry. For example, if say 我道歉(Wǒ dào qiàn) or 道个歉(Dào gè qiàn), the attitude is too casual and leave an impression of perfunctory and insincere.

不同的是，在中文里，道歉/致歉一词不能完全替代对不起使用。比如说“我道歉”、“道个歉”。这种态度十分随便，容易给人留下敷衍不真诚的印象。

However, in Chinese, it is available to add the word 对不起 after 道歉 together to express enough sincerity.

但可以在后面继续加上对不起一起使用，表示足够的诚意。

E.g. “我给你道歉， 对不起！(Wǒ gěi nǐ dào qiàn, duì bù qǐ!)”

比如 “我给你道歉，对不起！”

It can be used in question sentences, such as “你能给我道歉吗? (nǐ néng gěi wǒ dào qiàn mā?)”, meaning that could you apologize to me?

可以用在问句里，比如“你能给我道歉吗？”

E.g. “你能给我道歉吗? (nǐ néng gěi wǒ dào qiàn mā?)”

比如 “你能给我道歉吗？”

Usually, it won’t be used with 不好意思 or 抱歉 together, except 对不起.

通常不和不好意思、抱歉一起使用， 对不起除外。

Internet Apologies

网络致歉

10. 道歉表情包 (Dào Qiàn Biǎo Qíng Bāo) | Memes or stickers for Apology

Apology memes or stickers are frequently spreading on the Chinese Internet. They are vivid and quite interesting.

常见于网络中的表达方式，活泼又逗趣。

E.g. the memes and stickers to say sorry like the follows.

比如直接表达对不起的表情包：对不起，我错啦！我来认错了！

E.g. the memes and stickers containing the behaviors for apologizing like the follows： the degree and sincerity increased in turn.

比如用道歉的行为来表达歉意的表情包：双手合十、低头下跪流泪、跪榴莲/键盘等等，程度和诚意依次升高。

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| 在中国，不同道歉语之间的区别？

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