抱歉 bàoqiàn be sorry
be sorry; feel apologetic; to regret
How to remember 抱歉: 抱 embrace + 歉 apology = be sorry.
Characters
How it is used
- 'To be sorry, feel apologetic' - 很抱歉 (hěn bàoqiàn) I'm very sorry; used for mild apologies and regret.
- Softer/more formal than 对不起 (duìbuqǐ): 抱歉 often prefaces bad news or minor inconvenience (抱歉，让您久等了 sorry to keep you waiting), while 对不起 is a more direct 'I'm sorry / I apologize'.
- It's a stative verb, so it takes 很/非常, not an object like 对不起 can.
Example sentences
- 我很抱歉。 Wǒ hěn bàoqiàn.I'm sorry.
- 我非常抱歉。 Wǒ fēicháng bàoqiàn.I'm terribly sorry.
- 抱歉，我没钱。 Bàoqiàn, wǒ méi qián.Sorry, I don't have any money.