How do you use "Excuse Me" in a sentence?

Excuse me, is this seat taken? Excuse me, could you repeat that? *burps* 'Excuse me. Excuse me?! What did you just say?

Excuse Me

Q: What does "Excuse Me" mean?

Polite attention-getter; apology; expressing offense Versatile phrase used to get attention politely, apologize for minor intrusions, or express indignation. Tone completely changes the meaning.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Polite attention-getter; apology; expressing offense

礼貌地引起注意、道歉、表示冒犯

Llamar la atención educadamente; disculpa; expresando ofensa

丁寧に注意を引く、謝罪、怒りを表す

정중하게 주의를 끄는 말, 사과, 불쾌감 표현

Versatile phrase used to get attention politely, apologize for minor intrusions, or express indignation. Tone completely changes the meaning.

多用途短语，用于礼貌地引起注意、为小打扰道歉、或表达愤慨。语气完全改变意思。

Frase versátil usada para llamar la atención educadamente, disculparse por pequeñas intrusiones, o expresar indignación. El tono cambia completamente el significado.

礼儀正しく注意を引いたり、軽い邪魔を謝ったり、怒りを表現したりするのに使う万能フレーズ。トーンによって意味が完全に変わる。

정중하게 주의를 끌거나, 사소한 방해에 대해 사과하거나, 분노를 표현할 때 쓰는 다용도 표현. 억양에 따라 의미가 완전히 달라진다.

Examples

Excuse me, is this seat taken?
对不起，这个座位有人吗？
Disculpe, ¿está ocupado este asiento?
すみません、この席空いてますか？
실례합니다, 이 자리 비어 있나요?
Excuse me, could you repeat that?
对不起，你能再说一遍吗？
Disculpe, ¿podría repetir eso?
すみません、もう一度言ってもらえますか？
실례합니다, 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
*burps* 'Excuse me.
*打嗝* '不好意思。
*eructo* 'Disculpe.
*げっぷ* '失礼。
*트림* '실례합니다.
Excuse me?! What did you just say?
你说什么？！
¿¡Disculpe!? ¿Qué acabas de decir?
すみません？！今なんて言った？
뭐라고요?! 지금 뭐라고 했어?

Pronunciation

/ɪkˈskjuːz miː/

Usage Guide

Context: attention, apology, offense

Tone: varies greatly—polite to indignant

✓ Do Say

Excuse me...
不好意思…
Disculpe...
すみません…
실례합니다…
Excuse me?
对不起？
¿Disculpe?
すみません？
뭐라고요?
Oh, excuse me.
哦，不好意思。
Oh, disculpe.
ああ、すみません。
아, 죄송합니다.

✗ Don't Say

Tone is crucial
语气至关重要
El tono es crucial
トーンが重要
어조가 매우 중요하다
Rising intonation = offense
升调=冒犯
Entonación ascendente = ofensa
上がり調子=怒り
올라가는 억양 = 불쾌감 표현

Common Mistakes

Flat tone = polite; Rising tone = offended
Context determines meaning entirely

Origin & History

Traditional polite phrase requesting to be excused from social rules (like needing to pass by someone). The indignant usage evolved from questioning whether someone should be excused for rudeness.

Etymology: Request to be excused for social transgression

First recorded: Traditional English politeness

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Basic politeness phrase; Common in every context

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Variations

Excuse meExcuse me?If you'll excuse me