Looking up...
抱歉
bàoqiàn
sorry
我迟到了，真的很抱歉。
I'm late. I'm really sorry.
formalinformal
An expression of regret or apology for having done something wrong or caused inconvenience.
我打翻了你的咖啡，真的很抱歉。
I spilled your coffee. I'm really sorry.
抱歉，我不能参加你的生日派对。
Sorry, I can't attend your birthday party.
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to express regret or apology.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Politeness
Using '抱歉' is a polite way to acknowledge a mistake or inconvenience.
Gold Rule
Context
Use '抱歉' when you want to express regret or apology, regardless of the formality of the situation.
Word Origin
Composed of '抱' (bào) meaning 'to hold' and '歉' (qiàn) meaning 'regret' or 'shortcoming'.
Usage Notes
Often used to express regret for mistakes, inconveniences, or offenses. Can be used in both formal and informal settings.
Word Breakdown
抱
to hold
root歉
regret
root汉英词典