A0 · reviewed · real-chinese

不好意思。

Sorry. / Excuse me.
Practice recall

Practice path

Make this line survive without the page.

Start with the sound, then answer the authored recall prompts for this exact line. No browsing through the whole quiz set.

0/4 recalled Next: hear it cold. Continue next step

Scene

When to use it

Apologizing lightly, getting attention, or softening a small interruption.

Risk

safe

For a serious apology, use 对不起 and explain what happened.

Literal

Not good meaning.

不好意思 is more flexible than 对不起 for small social friction.

Examples

Say it inside real sentences.

Run the 4-step recall
01 Sorry, I am late.
02 Excuse me, sorry to interrupt.

Mini dialogue

Hear the social move.

Play both lines, then say the second line without looking.

A Excuse me, sorry to interrupt.
B No worries. Go ahead.

Contrast

Do not blur these together.

01 Light sorry / excuse me.
02 More direct sorry.

Recall prompts

Check whether it survived.

01 · What does 不好意思。 mean?

Answer: Sorry. / Excuse me.

不好意思 is more flexible than 对不起 for small social friction.

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02 · Fill the pinyin for 不好意思。

Answer: bù hǎo yì si.

不好意思。 is pronounced bù hǎo yì si.

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03 · Which line works as a light sorry or excuse me?

Answer: 不好意思。

Apologizing lightly, getting attention, or softening a small interruption.

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