How to say "excuse me" or "sorry" in Chinese

不 (bù) means 'not', 好 (hǎo) means 'good', and 意思 (yìsi) means 'meaning' or 'sense'. Literally 'not good meaning', it conveys a sense of awkwardness or apology.

Use 不好意思 to get someone's attention politely, apologize for a minor mistake, or express embarrassment. It's less formal than 对不起 (duìbuqǐ, 'sorry') and more casual. Don't use it for serious apologies.