抱歉

bào qiàn

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Adjective Very common

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Definitions

1. to be sorry
2. to feel apologetic
3. sorry!

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item

• 遗憾 yí hàn 遗憾 yí hàn regret Regret, but more formal and less personal than 抱歉: regret

Synonyms

1 item

• 对不起 duì bu qǐ 对不起 duì bu qǐ I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon Expressing apology or regret for a minor mistake or inconvenience: I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon

Usage notes

Common mistakes

抱歉 is often used for smaller, less serious offenses; 对不起 carries a stronger sense of personal fault. Using 抱歉 for a serious mistake may sound insufficiently remorseful.

Example Sentences

4 shown

实在 抱歉 ，我迟到了。

I'm really sorry I'm late.

抱歉 ？

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 7767606)

抱歉 ！

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 7767997)

湯姆， 抱歉 ，我沒時間閒聊。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 13109369)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 抱歉

• 抱 抱 bào: to carry (in one's arms)
• 歉 歉 qiàn: to apologize