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抱歉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
抱歉bàoqiànto be sorryHSK 4, v, rank #192, Hard
抱歉bàoqiànto feel apologeticHSK 4, v, rank #192, Hard
抱歉bàoqiànsorry!HSK 4, v, rank #192, Hard
bàoqiàn(bao4qian4) T4
  1. 1to be sorry
  2. 2to feel apologetic
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March 24, 2026
抱歉bàoqiàn(bao4qian4)

抱歉 (bào qiàn) means to express regret or apologize for a mistake or inconvenience caused. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when one wants to acknowledge an error or express sorrow for a situation, such as when declining an invitation or addressing a misunderstanding.

Frequency#192DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing apology through 抱歉 is crucial for maintaining harmony in relationships. It reflects the value placed on community and social cohesion, and failing to apologize can lead to misunderstandings and loss of face.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone holding (抱) a heavy heart (歉) because they feel sorry. The character 抱 (bào) looks like an embrace, while 歉 (qiàn) has a radical related to words, symbolizing the act of expressing sorrow verbally.

Meanings of 抱歉

bàoqiàn(bao4qian4)
1to be sorry
2to feel apologetic
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 抱歉

抱歉Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#192Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 抱歉

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Podcast: 抱歉

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AI Study Notes for 抱歉

Quick Contrast

抱歉 (bàoqiàn) vs 对不起 (duìbùqǐ) — use 抱歉 for more formal apologies, while 对不起 is more casual.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine someone holding (抱) a heavy heart (歉) because they feel sorry. The character 抱 (bào) looks like an embrace, while 歉 (qiàn) has a radical related to words, symbolizing the act of expressing sorrow verbally.

Usage Notes

When using 抱歉, it's important to pair it with contexts that require an apology, such as '我很抱歉' (I am very sorry). A common mistake is to use it in overly casual settings; it's better suited for situations requiring sincerity. Be mindful of the tone as it shows your level of remorse.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 4 word, 抱歉 connects with other terms related to emotions and interpersonal communication, such as 感谢 (gǎn xiè, to thank) and 道歉 (dào qiàn, to apologize). Focus on practicing it in dialogues where apologies are necessary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing apology through 抱歉 is crucial for maintaining harmony in relationships. It reflects the value placed on community and social cohesion, and failing to apologize can lead to misunderstandings and loss of face.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 抱歉 with 对不起, using it in casual situations where a lighter expression is more appropriate. For example, saying '我抱歉' (I am sorry) instead of the more suitable '对不起' in informal scenarios.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 抱歉

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Component Characters

抱bàoto hold
HSK 48 strokes扌
View full entry
歉qiànto apologize
14 strokes欠
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Write 抱歉

抱
歉

Practice writing 抱歉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 抱歉

抱歉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

她马上就懊悔了。“哦，我很____！你一定要原谅我。”

She was instantly contrite. "Oh, I am sorry! You must forgive me."

Example Sentences for 抱歉 (10)

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1
她马上就懊悔了。“哦，我很抱歉！你一定要原谅我。”

tā mǎ shàng jiù ào huǐ le。“ 。“， ó ， wǒ hěn！ bào qiàn ！ nǐ yī dìng yào。”

She was instantly contrite. "Oh, I am sorry! You must forgive me."
2
我很抱歉地通知你，明天是你的最后一天了。

wǒ hěn bào qiàn dì tōng zhī nǐ， ， míng tiān shì nǐ de zuì hòu yī tiān。

I hate to tell you this, but tomorrow's your last day.
3
我真的非常抱歉，我得走了。

wǒ zhēn de fēi cháng bào qiàn， ， wǒ dé zǒu。

I do hope you'll forgive me but I've got to leave.
4
“我们俩在同时讲话。”——“噢，抱歉。”

“ “ wǒ mén liǎng zài tóng shí jiǎng。”——“ huà， 。”——“ ō。”

"We're all talking at the same time." — "Yeah. Sorry."
5
这么晚打电话真是抱歉，可是我需要帮个忙。

zhè mó wǎn dǎ diàn huà zhēn shì bào qiàn， ， kě shì wǒ xū yào bāng gè。

I'm sorry to call so late, but I need a favour.
6
如果我说错了什么，那真的十分抱歉。

rú guǒ wǒ shuō cuò le shí mó， ， nà zhēn de shí fēn bào。

I'mreally sorry if I said anything wrong.
7
我说了声抱歉，跑回到电话机旁。

wǒ shuō le shēng bào qiàn， ， pǎo huí dào diàn huà jī。

I excused myself and ran back to the telephone.
8
“抱歉，”她说，“我今晚有安排了。”

“ “ bào，” qiàn ，”，“ tā shuō ，“ wǒ jīn wǎn yǒu。”

"I'm sorry," she said. "I have plans for tonight."
9
抱歉，李小姐正在休息，不能打扰。

bào qiàn， ， lǐ xiǎo jiě zhèng zài xiū， xī ， bù néng。

I'm sorry, but Miss Lee is resting and can't be disturbed.
10
抱歉我要去趟洗手间。

bào qiàn wǒ yào qù tàng xǐ shǒu jiān。

I'm afraid I have to answer a call of nature.

Cultural Notes for 抱歉

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, expressing apology through 抱歉 is crucial for maintaining harmony in relationships. It reflects the value placed on community and social cohesion, and failing to apologize can lead to misunderstandings and loss of face.

Frequently Asked Questions about 抱歉

Use 抱歉 for more formal situations or when you want to convey a deeper sense of regret, while 对不起 is often used for casual apologies.