抱歉

bàoqiàn

verb HSK 6 #192

Meanings

To hold regret — to feel sorry.

Hěn bàoqiàn ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le.

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

Wǒ duì cǐ shēn biǎo bàoqiàn.

I sincerely apologize for this.

Bàoqiàn, wǒ lái wǎn le.

Sorry, I'm late.

Tā juéde hěn bàoqiàn, sòng le yī shù huā.

He felt very sorry and sent a bouquet of flowers.

usage

Apology scale: 不好意思 (mild, 'excuse me') → 对不起 (standard 'sorry') → 抱歉 (more formal 'I apologize') → 道歉 (dàoqiàn, the formal act of apologizing).

抱 bào

歉 qiàn