不客气
bú kèqi
You're welcome
How to say "I'm sorry" in Chinese
对不起
duìbuqǐ
I'm sorry
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
对不起 is a fixed expression made of 对 (duì, 'toward') and 不起 (buqǐ, 'not up'), literally 'cannot face up to' someone. It's a set phrase, not built from parts you can rearrange.
Variations and politeness
抱歉
bàoqiàn
Sorry — More formal and polite.
对不起了
duìbuqǐle
Sorry (with emphasis) — More colloquial and emotional.
Mini dialogue
A
你迟到了！
Nǐ chídào le!
You're late!
B
对不起，我遇到了一些问题。
Duìbuqǐ, wǒ yùdào le yīxiē wèntí.
Sorry, I ran into some problems.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you have done something wrong or caused inconvenience and want to apologize sincerely.
- When you need to apologize to someone you don't know well or in a formal situation.
- When you want to express regret for a mistake, like being late or bumping into someone.
Avoid when
- When you just want to get someone's attention or pass by; use 借过 (jièguò) instead.
- When the offense is very minor and you are among close friends; overusing 对不起 can sound overly dramatic.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "I'm sorry" in Chinese?
You can say 对不起 (duìbuqǐ). It is the standard way to apologize.
How do you pronounce 对不起?
It is pronounced duìbuqǐ, with the neutral tone on the second syllable.
When do you use 对不起?
Use 对不起 when you have made a mistake or caused inconvenience, such as being late or accidentally bumping into someone.
More phrases for this situation
Tomyo
Learn Chinese with spaced repetition
Remember 对不起 and hundreds of other phrases with smart reviews, audio and examples.