Daily · Chinese
Practice this phrase
Chinese · 中文
Translation
不好意思
Romanization
Bu hao yisi
Pronunciation
boo how ee-suh
When to use it
Use this in everyday conversation. These phrases are generally safe for work, travel, and casual interactions. In Chinese, tone and relationship matter; when unsure, choose a polite version or soften your delivery.
Example
不好意思 — a natural sentence for ordinary conversation for "excuse me".
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FAQ
You say "不好意思" in Chinese. The romanized form is "Bu hao yisi", and a simple pronunciation cue is "boo how ee-suh".
This entry is marked as polite. The usage note explains when the phrase is appropriate and when you should soften it.
Use "boo how ee-suh" as a learner-friendly pronunciation cue. The romanization is "Bu hao yisi".
Use this in everyday conversation. These phrases are generally safe for work, travel, and casual interactions. In Chinese, tone and relationship matter; when unsure, choose a polite version or soften your delivery.