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Daily Chinese Expressions (Beginner)
Why Is He Apologizing?
Learn the Phrase “不好意思 (bù hăoyìsi)” in a Chinese Class
Liu Yang was on business in America and dropped in on his American friend Jack. Jack's family provided a wonderful stay and treated Liu Yang with great hospitality. When it was time to leave, Liu Yang said, “你们一家人对我太好了, 我都不好意思了。 (Nĭmen yì jiā rén duì wŏ tài hăo le, wŏ dōu bù hăoyìsi le.)” “Why?” replied the suddenly confused Jack. “You did nothing wrong, what are you sorry for?”
Can you figure out where Jack got mixed up?
In fact, “不好意思 (bù hăoyìsi) sorry/excuse me,” has more than one meaning in the Chinese language. First, it’s used to make an apology after a wrong doing. This meaning is the same as “对不起 (duìbuqĭ) sorry.”
Example:
Wang Mei and Li Fang decided to meet each other at 6 p.m. Now it’s half past six.
Bù hăoyìsi, wŏ chí dào le.
Wang Mei: 不 好意思，我 迟 到 了。
Sorry. I’m late.
Wang Mei: 不 好意思，我 迟 到 了。
Sorry. I’m late.
Méiguānxi.
Li Fang: 没关系。
No big deal.
Li Fang: 没关系。
No big deal.
Second, “不好意思 (bù hăoyìsi) sorry/excuse me” also expresses an apology used when troubling others to do something. In the dialogue above, Liu Yang was grateful for the hospitality of Jack’s family. He was sorry for bothering Jack’s family to entertain him.
Example:
Bù hăoyìsi, nĭ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?
不 好意思，你 能 再 说 一 遍 吗？
Sorry to trouble you, but could you repeat it again?
不 好意思，你 能 再 说 一 遍 吗？
Sorry to trouble you, but could you repeat it again?
Third, “不好意思 (bù hăoyìsi) sorry/excuse me,” is also used on occasions where one feels sorry to disturb or interrupt others.
Example:
Bù hăoyìsi, wŏ yào qù yíxià xĭ shŏu jiān
Wang Li: 不 好意思，我 要 去 一下洗 手 间。
Excuse me, I need to go to the washroom.
Wang Li: 不 好意思，我 要 去 一下洗 手 间。
Excuse me, I need to go to the washroom.
Hăo de.
Li Míng: 好 的。
Ok.
Li Míng: 好 的。
Ok.
In addition, “不好意思 (bù hăoyìsi)” means "to be shy to receive praise from others." It shows the modest attitude of the speaker.
Example:
Linda, nĭ shì wŏ jiàn guò zuì piàoliang de nǚ háizi.
Tom: Linda，你 是 我 见 过 最 漂亮 的 女 孩子。
Linda, you’re seriously the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.
Tom: Linda，你 是 我 见 过 最 漂亮 的 女 孩子。
Linda, you’re seriously the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.
Nĭ zhème kuā wŏ, wŏ dōu bù hăoyìsi le.
Linda: 你 这么 夸 我，我 都 不 好意思 了。
You flatter me! I’m a bit embarrassed.
Linda: 你 这么 夸 我，我 都 不 好意思 了。
You flatter me! I’m a bit embarrassed.
Discussion
I have learned Survival Chinese courses here for a week and noticed that in Lesson 4 of the Survival Chinese course there is the measure word "个." The usage of this is not very clear to me? Could you explain it? Thanks!
- Tina
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