不好意思

• Pinyin: bù hǎo yì si
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 (bù) — not; 好 (hǎo) — good; 意思 (yìsi) — meaning, sense, feeling

Meaning

Sorry; excuse me; to feel embarrassed. Essential for polite social interaction in Chinese.

A versatile expression used to apologize mildly, to excuse oneself, or to express awkwardness. Milder than 对不起, which is used for genuine apologies.

Examples

1. 不好意思，我来晚了一点。 Sorry, I arrived a little late.
2. 他不好意思开口请求帮助。 He felt too embarrassed to ask for help.
3. 不好意思，请问洗手间在哪里？ Excuse me, could you tell me where the bathroom is?

Usage Guide

Context: apologies, requests, social interaction, politeness

Tone: polite, humble

Do Say

• 不好意思，麻烦你了。(Sorry to bother you.)
• 不好意思，我能问你一个问题吗？(Excuse me, may I ask you a question?)

Don't Say

• Avoid using 不好意思 in very serious apologies — for genuine remorse, use 对不起; 不好意思 is better suited for minor inconveniences or mild social awkwardness.

Origin & History

Literally means 'not good meaning/face' — 不 (not) + 好意思 (comfortable showing one's face). Conveys a sense of social awkwardness or mild shame.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal