How to Say "Sorry / Excuse me" in Chinese (Mandarin)

Category: Greetings & Basics

对不起

Duìbuqǐ

Pronunciation: dway-boo-chee

How to Pronounce "Sorry / Excuse me" in Mandarin

The Chinese word for 'Sorry / Excuse me' is 对不起, pronounced Duìbuqǐ in pinyin notation. To say it in English approximation: 'dway-boo-chee'.

Breaking Down the Characters

Character	Pinyin	Notes
对	Duìbuqǐ	Character component
不		Character component
起		Character component

Example Usage in Context

English	Chinese	Pinyin
I want to say 'Sorry / Excuse me'	对不起	Duìbuqǐ
How do you say Sorry / Excuse me?	"Sorry / Excuse me"怎么说？	"Sorry / Excuse me" zěnme shuō?
Please say Sorry / Excuse me slowly	请慢慢说对不起	Qǐng màn màn shuō Duìbuqǐ

Understanding Mandarin Tones

Mandarin Chinese uses four tones plus a neutral tone. Getting the tone right is essential - the same syllable with a different tone can mean a completely different word. The pinyin Duìbuqǐ includes tone markers to guide correct pronunciation.

Tips for Learning Chinese Pronunciation

Listen to native speakers on apps like HelloChinese or Duolingo
Practice the four tones separately before combining them in words
Record yourself and compare to native pronunciation
The pinyin system is the standard romanisation - learn it once and use it everywhere

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