说对不起
shuō duìbuqǐ
Say you're sorry · trad. 說對不起
说对不起 (shuō duì bu qǐ) means "to say sorry" or "to apologize" in Mandarin Chinese. It is used when you want to express an apology for something you have done.
What does 说对不起 (shuō duìbuqǐ) mean?
说对不起 (shuō duìbuqǐ) means “say you're sorry” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “say sorry.”
When to use it
Neutral and appropriate for most situations. For a more serious apology, you can add 真的 (zhēnde, "really") before 对不起. When someone apologizes to you, common replies include 没关系 (méiguānxi, "it's okay") or 没事 (méishì, "no problem").
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “shwoh DWAY-boo-chee.” The 'bu' is often said very lightly, almost like a neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- 对不起duìbuqǐsorry
- 抱歉bàoqiànapologize (more formal)
- 不好意思bù hǎo yìsiexcuse me / sorry (for minor things)
Examples
如果你做错了，就要说对不起。
rúguǒ nǐ zuòcuò le, jiù yào shuō duìbuqǐ.
If you made a mistake, you should say sorry.
他撞到我了，但是没有说对不起。
tā zhuàngdào wǒ le, dànshì méiyǒu shuō duìbuqǐ.
He bumped into me, but didn't say sorry.
我应该早点说对不起的。
wǒ yīnggāi zǎodiǎn shuō duìbuqǐ de.
I should have apologized sooner.
Pro tip: While 说对不起 means "to say sorry," you can often just say 对不起 on its own to apologize. The 说 emphasizes the act of speaking the apology.
Related phrases
坐好 · Sit properly不许打人 · No hitting要分享哦 · Remember to share
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