对不起 duì bu qǐ
“I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint”
verbHSK 1 · 2021 list level 1Traditional 對不起
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
对不起 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 45: 对不起 duìbuqǐ — Level 1; official annotation 1 (动). PDF page 81
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 对不起
对不起 is the everyday way to say "I'm sorry" or "excuse me" when you have done something wrong, such as bumping into someone, being late, or making a mistake. It usually stands alone as a short apology, and you can add 对不起，我…… to explain what you are sorry for.
例句Example sentences
- 对不起，我来晚了。duì bù qǐ, wǒ lái wǎn le.Sorry, I'm late.
- 对不起，我不知道。duì bù qǐ, wǒ bù zhī dao.Sorry, I didn't know.
- 对不起，这是我的错。duì bù qǐ, zhè shì wǒ de cuò.Sorry, this is my fault.
易混词Easily confused
对不起vs抱歉
抱歉 also means "sorry" but is a little more formal and often used as 很抱歉; 对不起 is the basic spoken apology for HSK 1.