Sorry, not sorry
Meaning: A defiant expression meaning you're not actually apologetic about something.
Sorry, not sorry is the millennial way of being unapologetically yourself. It acknowledges that something might bother others but declares you don't care. Used for everything from eating the last slice of pizza to holding unpopular opinions. It's confident and a little sassy.
Examples
- I ate the entire pint of ice cream by myself. Sorry, not sorry. 一整桶冰淇淋我一个人全吃了。抱歉,但我不抱歉。Me comí la tarrina entera de helado yo solo. Lo siento, pero no lo siento.アイスクリーム1パイント一人で全部食べちゃった。ごめんね、ごめんなくないけど。아이스크림 한 통 혼자 다 먹었어. 미안, 안 미안.
- I'm going to bed at 8 PM on a Friday. Sorry, not sorry. 我周五晚上八点就睡觉了。不好意思,但我不觉得有什么不好意思的。Me voy a la cama a las 8 de la tarde un viernes. Lo siento, pero no lo siento.金曜の夜8時に寝ます。悪いけど、全然悪くない。금요일 밤 8시에 잘 거야. 미안, 안 미안.
- Sorry, not sorry, but pineapple belongs on pizza. 不好意思但我不觉得不好意思,披萨上放菠萝就是很好吃。Lo siento, pero no lo siento: la piña sí va en la pizza.悪いけど悪くないんだけど、ピザにパイナップルはアリでしょ。미안한데 안 미안한데, 피자에 파인애플은 맞아.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: social media, casual conversation, texting
Tone: defiant, playful
✓ Do Say
- I'm wearing sweatpants to brunch. Sorry, not sorry.我穿运动裤去吃早午餐了。抱歉,但我不抱歉。Me pongo chándal para ir al brunch. Lo siento, pero no lo siento.ブランチにスウェットパンツで行きます。ごめんね、ごめんなくないけど。브런치에 트레이닝복 입고 간다. 미안, 안 미안.
- Sorry not sorry, I choose sleep over socializing.抱歉但不抱歉,比起社交我选择睡觉。Lo siento pero no lo siento, elijo dormir antes que socializar.悪いけど悪くないんだけど、付き合いより睡眠を選ぶわ。미안, 안 미안, 사교보다 잠을 선택한다.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't use after actually doing something hurtful — it sounds callous when real feelings are involved不要在真正伤害了别人之后使用——当涉及真实感情时会显得很冷漠No lo uses después de hacer algo genuinamente hiriente — suena insensible cuando hay sentimientos reales en juego本当に人を傷つけた後には使わないこと——本当の気持ちが絡んでいる時には冷淡に聞こえる실제로 상처 주는 일을 한 후에는 쓰지 말 것 — 진짜 감정이 관련되면 냉정하게 들린다
Origin & History
The phrase existed before, but was popularized as a pop culture catchphrase in the 2010s, notably by Demi Lovato's 2017 song 'Sorry Not Sorry.' It became a signature millennial attitude of unapologetic self-expression.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s
Generation: Millennials
Social background: Universal
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