How do you use "Pardon?" in a sentence?

Pardon? I didn't catch that. Pardon me? I beg your pardon? Pardon, could you say that again?

Pardon?

Q: What does "Pardon?" mean?

Sorry, what did you say? A polite way to ask someone to repeat what they said. Considered more formal or genteel than 'what?' Very British way to request clarification.

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Formal

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Meaning: Sorry, what did you say?

对不起，你说什么？

Perdón, ¿qué dijiste?

すみません、何とおっしゃいましたか？

죄송합니다, 뭐라고 하셨죠?

A polite way to ask someone to repeat what they said. Considered more formal or genteel than 'what?' Very British way to request clarification.

礼貌地请某人重复他们说的话。被认为比'what?'更正式或更文雅。是非常英式的请求澄清的方式。

Una forma educada de pedir a alguien que repita lo que dijo. Considerado más formal o elegante que 'what?' Una forma muy británica de pedir aclaración.

誰かに言ったことを繰り返してもらうための丁寧な言い方。「what?」よりフォーマルまたは上品と考えられている。とてもイギリス的な説明を求める方法。

상대방에게 방금 한 말을 다시 해달라고 정중하게 부탁하는 표현. 'what?'보다 더 격식 있고 점잖은 표현으로 여겨진다. 매우 영국적인 표현이다.

Examples

Pardon? I didn't catch that.
什么？我没听清。
¿Perdón? No entendí.
すみません？聞き取れませんでした。
네? 못 들었어요.
Pardon me?
请问？
¿Disculpe?
失礼ですが？
실례합니다만?
I beg your pardon?
请再说一遍？
¿Perdone?
もう一度お願いします？
다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠습니까?
Pardon, could you say that again?
什么，你能再说一遍吗？
¿Perdón, podría repetirlo?
すみません、もう一度言ってもらえますか？
죄송한데, 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?

Pronunciation

/ˈpɑːdn/

Usage Guide

Context: clarification, politeness, not hearing

Tone: polite, formal

✓ Do Say

Pardon?
什么？
¿Perdón?
すみません？
네?
I beg your pardon?
请再说一遍？
¿Le ruego me perdone?
失礼ですが？
실례지만 뭐라고요?
Pardon me?
请问？
¿Disculpe?
もう一度？
다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?

✗ Don't Say

Can sound overly formal or affected
可能听起来过于正式或做作
Puede sonar excesivamente formal o afectado
堅すぎる、または気取って聞こえることがある
지나치게 격식적이거나 거드름 피우는 것처럼 들릴 수 있다
More British than American
更英式而非美式
Más británico que americano
アメリカ的というよりイギリス的
미국식보다는 영국식 표현이다

Common Mistakes

Americans more likely to say 'what?' or 'excuse me?'
'I beg your pardon' can express offense

Origin & History

From French 'pardon' (forgiveness), used in English as a polite request for forgiveness for not hearing or understanding. More formal than 'what?' or 'sorry?'

Etymology: From French 'pardon' (forgiveness)

First recorded: Common in English for centuries

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages, more formal register

Social background: Often associated with middle/upper class

Pop culture: Considered proper British English; 'What?' is seen as less polite

Regional notes: More British than American. 'Pardon?' is taught as polite alternative to 'what?'

Variations

Pardon?Pardon me?I beg your pardon?