How common it is
抱歉 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say bào qiàn slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
抱歉表示道歉或表示不好意思。
bào qiàn biǎo shì dào qiàn huò biǎo shì bù hǎo yì si。
Sorry means apologizing or expressing regret.
Context note
抱歉常出现在道歉、礼貌拒绝和解释里。
bào qiàn cháng chū xiàn zài dào qiàn 、 lǐ mào jù jué hé jiě shì lǐ。
Sorry often appears in apologies, polite refusals, and explanations.
5 examples
抱歉，我来晚了。
bào qiàn， wǒ lái wǎn le。
Sorry, I am late.
非常抱歉。
fēi cháng bào qiàn。
I am very sorry.
抱歉打扰你。
bào qiàn dǎ rǎo nǐ。
Sorry to bother you.
我很抱歉。
wǒ hěn bào qiàn。
I am sorry.
抱歉，这个我不会。
bào qiàn， zhè ge wǒ bú huì。
Sorry, I do not know this one.
5 mini stories
我迟到了，所以先说了抱歉。
wǒ chí dào le， suǒ yǐ xiān shuō le bào qiàn。
I was late, so I said sorry first.
不小心打翻了水，我马上说抱歉。
bù xiǎo xīn dǎ fān le shuǐ， wǒ mǎ shàng shuō bào qiàn。
I accidentally spilled the water and immediately said sorry.
老师说说话前先想一想，才不会总是抱歉。
lǎo shī shuō shuō huà qián xiān xiǎng yi xiǎng， cái bú huì zǒng shì bào qiàn。
The teacher said to think before speaking so you do not always need to say sorry.
抱歉打扰你一下，我想问个问题。
bào qiàn dǎ rǎo nǐ yí xià， wǒ xiǎng wèn gè wèn tí。
Sorry to bother you, I want to ask a question.
他很有礼貌，常常会说抱歉。
tā hěn yǒu lǐ mào， cháng cháng huì shuō bào qiàn。
He is very polite and often says sorry.