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不好意思

bù hǎo yì si
HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 2 Phrase Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. to feel embarrassed
  2. 2. to find it embarrassing
  3. 3. to be sorry (for inconveniencing sb)
  4. 4. excuse me; embarrassed; sorry in a mild context

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Word relationships

Related words

2 items
对不起
duì bu qǐ

I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon

used as a more direct apology
害羞
hài xiū

shy

feeling shy or embarrassed

Synonyms

2 items
抱歉
bào qiàn

to be sorry

apologizing or expressing regret
尴尬
gān gà

awkward

feeling awkward or embarrassed

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used with 很 (hěn) to mean 'very embarrassed', e.g., 很不好意思.

Common mistakes

Not equivalent to a direct apology like 对不起; it's milder and often expresses polite hesitation or mild embarrassment.

Example Sentences

1 shown
真 不好意思 ，让你久等了。
I'm really sorry for keeping you waiting.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 不好意思

不
bù

no; not so

好
hǎo

good

好
hào

to be fond of; to have a tendency to; to be prone to

好意
hǎo yì

good intention

意思
yì si

idea

不好
bù hǎo

no good

好意思
hǎo yì si

to have the nerve

思
sī

to think

意
yì

idea