How to say sorry in Chinese: 對不起 (duìbuqǐ)

Sorry in Chinese is 對不起, written duìbuqǐ in pinyin and ㄉㄨㄟˋ ˙ㄅㄨㄑㄧˇ in 注音. 對 falls (fourth tone), 不 is a quick, light syllable in everyday speech, and 起 dips low (third tone), so the word ends low.

對不起duì bù qǐㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˇsorry; excuse mesaid duì bu qǐ

Standard and spoken

Our native speaker recorded 對不起 twice: standard, slow and clear like a textbook, and spoken, at normal speed. Both lines are drawn on the same time scale.

Standardslow and clear

1.56 s

Spokennormal speed

Recording coming soon.

In the standard recording, all three syllables are full. 對 falls from the top to the middle, 不 comes back up and falls again, and 起 drops to the bottom of her voice, then lifts to the middle.

In normal speech the middle 不 is short and light, so many dictionaries write duìbuqǐ. Say 對 and 起 clearly and keep 不 quick.

The word ends low, on 起. If you end it high, it sounds like a question.

Syllable by syllable

對duìFourth tone: a fall from high. ui sounds like way.
不bù / buFourth tone in careful speech, light and quick in normal speech. u as in boo.
起qǐThird tone: drop low. q like ch in cheese, i as in see.

Common mistakes

Ending 起 high, so the apology sounds like a question.Let 起 drop low at the end.
Stressing 不 as much as 對 and 起.Keep 不 short and light in normal speech.
Using 對不起 for every small thing.For small things, 不好意思 is more natural in Taiwan.

Common phrases and replies

不好意思bù hǎo yì siexcuse me; sorry (small things)The everyday sorry in Taiwan: bumping someone, asking for help.
抱歉bào qiànI apologiseMore formal; in writing and announcements.
對不起，我來晚了duì bu qǐ, wǒ lái wǎn lesorry, I'm late對不起 for a real mistake.
沒關係méi guān xiit's okayThe usual reply to 對不起.

Taiwan and mainland

Taiwan speakers use 不好意思 for most small apologies and save 對不起 for real ones. Taiwan's Ministry of Education dictionary writes 不 in 對不起 as a light, neutral syllable (˙ㄅㄨ); in careful speech some speakers still give it a full fourth tone.

Practise it out loud

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Practise the third tone (the final 起), free

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Questions

What is the difference between 對不起 and 不好意思?

對不起 is a real apology for something you did wrong. 不好意思 is lighter: excuse me, sorry to bother you, a bit embarrassing. In Taiwan you will hear 不好意思 many times a day.

Is it duìbùqǐ or duìbuqǐ?

Both appear. Dictionaries, including Taiwan's, write 不 light: duìbuqǐ, ㄉㄨㄟˋ ˙ㄅㄨㄑㄧˇ. In careful speech it can be a full fourth tone. Either way, keep it short.

How do I answer 對不起?

沒關係 (méi guān xi, it's okay) or 沒事 (méi shì, no problem). 不會 (bú huì) also works in Taiwan.