对不起 (duìbuqǐ) — sorry; I apologize

对不起 (duìbuqǐ)

对不起 means "sorry" or "I apologize." It is used for genuine apologies where you have caused trouble, made a mistake, or wronged someone.

Meanings

1. [phrase] Sorry; I apologize; excuse me for what I did wrong (sincere apology).

Example Sentences

对不起，我来晚了。 Duìbuqǐ, wǒ lái wǎn le. Sorry, I am late.

对不起，这是我的错。 Duìbuqǐ, zhè shì wǒ de cuò. Sorry, this is my fault.

A: 对不起！ B: 没关系！ A: Duìbuqǐ! B: Méi guānxi! A: Sorry! B: No problem!

对不起，我不小心碰到你了。 Duìbuqǐ, wǒ bù xiǎoxīn pèng dào nǐ le. Sorry, I accidentally bumped into you.

Usage Notes

对不起 is a sincere, somewhat formal apology. It is appropriate when you have genuinely caused an inconvenience or made a clear mistake. The standard response is 没关系 (méi guānxi, it's okay / no problem). For lighter or less serious situations — such as squeezing past someone on a bus or interrupting someone — Chinese speakers often prefer 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi, excuse me / I feel embarrassed), which carries a softer, more self-deprecating tone. 不好意思 is not a strong apology; it is more of a polite social lubricant. Use 对不起 when a real mistake needs acknowledgment.

Collocations or Common Phrases

Memory Hook

对不起 literally means "cannot face (someone)" — you have done something that makes it hard to look them in the eye.