对不起

Definition

An apology for a mistake or inconvenience.

Example

Etymology

'对不起' (Duìbuqǐ) translates to 'sorry,' where '对' (duì) means 'to face' or 'toward,' and '不起' (bù qǐ) means 'not able to rise.' It expresses regret for an inconvenience caused.

How & Where It’s Used

Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when apologizing, suitable for spoken and written forms.

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