How to say "Sorry" in Vietnamese

The cultural key to saying sorry in Vietnamese

In Vietnamese culture, apologies are deeply tied to social hierarchy, respect, and relationships. The phrase you use depends on:

• Who you’re apologizing to (age, status, closeness)
• How serious the mistake is (minor slip vs. major offense)
• Your relationship (stranger, friend, elder, boss)

Using the wrong level of formality can sound insincere or even rude. When in doubt, lean toward being more formal—especially with elders or strangers.

---

1. Formal apologies (for strangers, elders, or serious mistakes)

Use Xin lỗi (pronounced seen loy) when addressing someone you don’t know well, someone older, or when acknowledging a significant mistake.

• Xin lỗi, tôi đã đến muộn. "I’m sorry, I arrived late."

• Xin lỗi, tôi không hiểu. "I’m sorry, I don’t understand."

• Xin lỗi, tôi đã làm phiền anh chị. "I’m sorry for bothering you."

This is the safest choice for beginners and works in most situations.

---

2. Casual apologies (for friends, peers, or minor mistakes)

Among friends or people close in age, you can soften the apology with Thôi, xin lỗi ("Okay, sorry") or just Lỗi rồi ("My bad").

• Thôi, xin lỗi! Tôi quên mất rồi. "Okay, sorry! I completely forgot."

• Lỗi rồi, đừng giận nữa. "My bad, don’t be mad anymore."

• À, xin lỗi nha! "Oh, sorry, okay?" (Southern Vietnam)

These are less formal but still polite. Avoid using them with elders or in professional settings.

---

3. Stronger apologies (for major mistakes or guilt)

If you’ve caused real trouble, add rất (very) or thành thật (sincerely) to emphasize regret:

• Tôi xin lỗi rất nhiều. "I’m very sorry."

• Tôi thành thật xin lỗi về chuyện này. "I sincerely apologize for this."

• Tôi xin lỗi, đây là lỗi của tôi. "I’m sorry, this is my fault."

This level is appropriate for serious situations, like missing a deadline or hurting someone’s feelings.

---

Quick Cheat Sheet

---

👉 Most useful for daily life: Memorize Xin lỗi first. It’s the safest, most versatile choice for almost any situation. Use Thôi, xin lỗi only with friends, and save Tôi thành thật xin lỗi for when you really need to show deep regret.