对不起 (Duìbuqǐ)
interjection · Beginner · Greetings & Phrases
Meaning
English: Sorry
An apology for a mistake or inconvenience.
Examples
🗣 对不起，我迟到了。
💬 Sorry, I am late.
Etymology
‘对不起’ (Duìbuqǐ) translates to ‘sorry,’ where ‘对’ (duì) means ‘to face’ or ‘toward,’ and ‘不起’ (bù qǐ) means ‘not able to rise.’ It expresses regret for an inconvenience caused.
How & Where It’s Used
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when apologizing, suitable for spoken and written forms.
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Tags: politeness, apology