How to Say Sorry in Chinese: Essential Apology Phrases + Thank You

Knowing how to say sorry in Chinese is one of the first social skills every Mandarin learner needs. Whether you accidentally bump into someone on the Beijing subway or need to make a formal apology to a colleague, Chinese has different words for different levels of "sorry." In this guide, you'll learn the most essential apology phrases — complete with characters, pinyin, and real example sentences — plus how to say thank you in Chinese with correct pronunciation. By the end, you'll be ready to handle apologies and gratitude like a native speaker.

How to Say Sorry in Chinese: Core Apology Words

Chinese doesn't have one single word for "sorry." Instead, there are several expressions, each carrying a different weight. Here are the most important ones to learn:

1. 对不起 (duì bu qǐ) — "I'm sorry"

This is the standard, textbook way to say sorry in Chinese. It literally means "cannot face (you)" and carries genuine remorse.

• Characters: 对不起
• Pinyin: duì bu qǐ
• English: I'm sorry
• Example: 对不起，我迟到了。(Duì bu qǐ, wǒ chí dào le.) — "I'm sorry, I'm late."

2. 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) — "Excuse me / Sorry (casual)"

This is by far the most frequently used "sorry" in everyday Mandarin. It literally means "embarrassed" and works for minor inconveniences.

• Characters: 不好意思
• Pinyin: bù hǎo yì si
• English: Excuse me / Sorry (light)
• Example: 不好意思，请问洗手间在哪里？(Bù hǎo yì si, qǐng wèn xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ?) — "Excuse me, where is the restroom?"

3. 抱歉 (bào qiàn) — "I apologize"

A more formal, written-style apology. You'll hear this in business settings, news broadcasts, and official statements.

• Characters: 抱歉
• Pinyin: bào qiàn
• English: I apologize
• Example: 很抱歉给您带来不便。(Hěn bào qiàn gěi nín dài lái bú biàn.) — "I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience."

4. 对不住 (duì bu zhù) — "Sorry (colloquial)"

A spoken variant of 对不起 that feels slightly more personal and heartfelt. Common in northern China.

• Characters: 对不住
• Pinyin: duì bu zhù
• English: Sorry / I let you down
• Example: 真对不住，我把你的书弄丢了。(Zhēn duì bu zhù, wǒ bǎ nǐ de shū nòng diū le.) — "I'm really sorry, I lost your book."

5. 请原谅 (qǐng yuán liàng) — "Please forgive me"

This is the most serious level of apology in Mandarin — you're explicitly asking for forgiveness.

• Characters: 请原谅
• Pinyin: qǐng yuán liàng
• English: Please forgive me
• Example: 请原谅我的失礼。(Qǐng yuán liàng wǒ de shī lǐ.) — "Please forgive my rudeness."

Levels of Apology in Chinese: Formal vs Casual

Not all "sorry" expressions are equal. Choosing the right one depends on context. Here's a quick comparison to help you say sorry in Chinese appropriately:

Expression	Formality	When to Use	Equivalent
不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si)	Casual	Bumping into someone, small mistakes	"Excuse me" / "Oops"
对不起 (duì bu qǐ)	Standard	Being late, breaking promises	"I'm sorry"
对不住 (duì bu zhù)	Informal but sincere	Letting someone down personally	"I'm really sorry"
抱歉 (bào qiàn)	Formal	Business, official settings	"I apologize"
请原谅 (qǐng yuán liàng)	Very formal	Serious offenses, begging forgiveness	"Please forgive me"

Casual scenario: You step on someone's foot on the bus.

不好意思！(Bù hǎo yì si!) — "Sorry about that!"

Formal scenario: You miss an important deadline at work.

非常抱歉，报告晚交了。(Fēi cháng bào qiàn, bào gào wǎn jiāo le.) — "I sincerely apologize for submitting the report late."

How to Say Thank You in Chinese

Apologies and gratitude go hand in hand. Here's how to say thank you in Chinese with correct pronunciation:

1. 谢谢 (xiè xie) — "Thank you"

The universal "thank you" in Mandarin. The first 谢 uses a falling fourth tone; the second is neutral.

• Characters: 谢谢
• Pinyin: xiè xie
• English: Thank you
• Example: 谢谢你帮我。(Xiè xie nǐ bāng wǒ.) — "Thank you for helping me."

Thank you in Chinese pronunciation tip: The "x" in xiè sounds like "sh" in English but lighter — place your tongue closer to your teeth and let air flow softly. Practice saying "she-eh" with a sharp falling tone.

2. 感谢 (gǎn xiè) — "To be grateful / Thanks"

More formal than 谢谢. Used in speeches, writing, and when expressing deeper gratitude.

• Characters: 感谢
• Pinyin: gǎn xiè
• English: To be grateful / I'm grateful
• Example: 感谢大家的支持。(Gǎn xiè dà jiā de zhī chí.) — "Thank you all for your support."

3. 多谢 (duō xiè) — "Many thanks"

A slightly warmer version of thank you, common in southern China and Cantonese-influenced Mandarin.

• Characters: 多谢
• Pinyin: duō xiè
• English: Many thanks
• Example: 多谢你的礼物！(Duō xiè nǐ de lǐ wù!) — "Many thanks for your gift!"

4. 太感谢了 (tài gǎn xiè le) — "Thank you so much"

When a simple "thanks" isn't enough, add 太...了 to intensify.

• Characters: 太感谢了
• Pinyin: tài gǎn xiè le
• English: Thank you so much
• Example: 太感谢了，你救了我一命！(Tài gǎn xiè le, nǐ jiù le wǒ yī mìng!) — "Thank you so much, you saved my life!"

Common Phrases Combining Sorry and Thank You

In real Chinese conversations, apologies and thanks often appear together. Here are natural phrases you'll hear frequently:

Apologizing and Thanking at the Same Time

不好意思，谢谢你。 (Bù hǎo yì si, xiè xie nǐ.) "Sorry to trouble you, thank you." Used when someone goes out of their way to help you.

对不起，太麻烦你了，谢谢！ (Duì bu qǐ, tài má fan nǐ le, xiè xie!) "Sorry, I've troubled you too much, thank you!" Used when you feel you've imposed on someone.

抱歉打扰了，非常感谢你的帮助。 (Bào qiàn dǎ rǎo le, fēi cháng gǎn xiè nǐ de bāng zhù.) "Sorry for the disturbance, thank you very much for your help." A polite combination for professional settings.

Responding to Apologies

When someone says sorry to you, here's how to respond:

• 没关系 (méi guān xi) — "It's okay / No worries"
• 没事 (méi shì) — "It's nothing" (casual)
• 不用谢 (bú yòng xiè) — "You're welcome" (literally "no need to thank")

Example dialogue:

A: 对不起，我不小心碰到你了。(Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù xiǎo xīn pèng dào nǐ le.) — "Sorry, I accidentally bumped into you." B: 没关系！(Méi guān xi!) — "No worries!"

How to Practice These Phrases

Knowing the words is just the first step. Here's how to make them stick:

1. Practice Tones with Typing

The best way to internalize Chinese pronunciation is through active recall. When you type pinyin and select the correct characters, you're reinforcing the connection between sound, meaning, and written form. Try typing each apology and thank you phrase until you can do it without hesitation.

2. Use Spaced Repetition

Don't try to memorize all phrases at once. Focus on 2-3 per day and review them over the following week. This approach is backed by memory science — learn more in our guide on how to remember Chinese characters.

3. Build Complete Sentences

Isolated vocabulary doesn't stick. Always practice these words in full sentences. For example, instead of just memorizing 对不起, practice the complete sentence: 对不起，我迟到了。

4. Master Tones First

If you're new to Chinese tones, make sure your foundation is solid before tackling full phrases. Our pinyin basics guide covers everything you need to know about the four tones and how they change meaning.

5. Set Realistic Goals

Learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint. Check out our breakdown of how long it takes to learn Chinese to set expectations and plan your study schedule effectively.

---

References

• Modern Chinese Apology Strategies — Journal of Pragmatics
• Standard Chinese Tones — Wikipedia
• Pinyin Romanization — Wikipedia

Want to build your Chinese vocabulary through typing? Explore our full course library and start speaking — and typing — with confidence today.