不好意思
Everyday phraseCommon
Excuse me / Sorry / I feel embarrassed
What does 不好意思 mean?
不好意思 — A polite opener, a small apology, or a way to describe feeling awkward. The situation tells you which meaning is intended.
✓Excuse me, may I ask…?
✓Sorry for the inconvenience.
✓I feel a bit embarrassed.
Before a question, 不好意思 often softens the interruption. As a reply, it may be a real apology. It does not always mean the speaker has done something seriously wrong.
Character breakdown
Open each character to see its own meanings and vocabulary links.
Real-world examples
1 · Politely getting attention
A: 不好意思，请问地铁站怎么走？
bù hǎo yì si, qǐngwèn dìtiězhàn zěnme zǒu?
A: Excuse me, how do I get to the subway station?
B: 一直往前走。
yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu.
B: Keep going straight.
2 · Turning down a request
A: 你现在能帮我搬一下吗？
nǐ xiànzài néng bāng wǒ bān yíxià ma?
A: Can you help me move this now?
B: 不好意思，我现在走不开。
bù hǎo yì si, wǒ xiànzài zǒu bu kāi.
B: Sorry, I can’t step away right now.
How to pronounce 不好意思
不好意思
Tap to hear Standard Mandarin.
Usage notes
✓Use it before interrupting a stranger or asking for help.
✓For a serious apology, a direct 对不起 may be more appropriate.
✓我有点不好意思 describes feeling shy or embarrassed.
Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.
Context lesson: Original Chinese Meaning context lesson; examples written for this site.
Context lesson: Original Chinese Meaning context lesson; examples written for this site.