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How to Say Sorry in Cantonese: Different Ways to Apologize

Last updated: March 9, 2026

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So you're heading to Hong Kong and just wanting to learn some basic Cantonese phrases? Knowing how to apologize properly is one of those essential skills that'll make your interactions way smoother. Whether you accidentally bumped into someone on the MTR or need to excuse yourself in a more formal setting, having the right phrase ready makes a real difference. The good news is that saying sorry in Cantonese isn't complicated once you understand the two main phrases and when to use each one.

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The two main ways to say sorry in Cantonese

Here's the thing about apologies in Cantonese: you've got two primary phrases that cover most situations, and they're used a bit differently than just saying "sorry" in English.

  1. The first one is 對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6). This is your go-to phrase when you've done something wrong or caused someone inconvenience. Think of it as a genuine apology where you're acknowledging fault. If you stepped on someone's foot, showed up late to a meeting, or broke something, this is what you'd say.
  2. The second phrase is 唔好意思 (m4 ho2 ji3 si3). This one works more like "excuse me" or a lighter apology. You'd use it when you need to get someone's attention, squeeze past people in a crowded space, or apologize for minor inconveniences where you're being polite rather than admitting serious fault.
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Using 對唔住 in different situations

This phrase is your serious apology. When you say sorry in Cantonese using 對唔住, you're taking responsibility for something.

Common situations where you'd use it:

  • You're running late and kept someone waiting.
  • You made a mistake at work that affected your colleagues.
  • You accidentally hurt someone's feelings.
  • You forgot an important appointment or promise.
  • You need to apologize to family members for something significant.

In more formal settings, you might add 真係 (jan1 hai6) before it, which means "really" or "truly." So 真係對唔住 becomes "I'm truly sorry." This adds sincerity and shows you're genuinely apologetic.

You can also say 對唔住先 (deoi3 m4 zyu6 sin1), where 先 is a particle that softens the apology slightly. It's still sincere but has a gentler feel to it.

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When to use 唔好意思 instead

This phrase handles the lighter stuff. Think of situations where you're being polite or excusing yourself rather than apologizing for actual wrongdoing.

Perfect times to use 唔好意思:

  • Getting someone's attention to ask for directions
  • Squeezing past people on a crowded bus or in a restaurant
  • Asking someone to repeat what they said
  • Interrupting a conversation briefly
  • Making a small request that might inconvenience someone slightly

In Hong Kong, you'll hear this phrase constantly in daily interactions. It's the polite way to navigate social situations without being overly formal or dramatic about minor things.

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Formal apologies in Cantonese

If you're in a business setting or need to apologize more formally, you've got some additional options beyond the basic phrases.

  • 抱歉 (baau6 hip3) is a more formal way to express regret. It's borrowed from written Chinese and sounds more professional. You'd use this in emails, formal letters, or when speaking to superiors or clients.
  • For really serious situations, 道歉 (dou6 hip3) means "to apologize" in a formal sense. You might say 我要向你道歉 (ngo5 jiu3 hoeng3 nei5 dou6 hip3), which means "I need to apologize to you."

These formal versions aren't necessary for everyday interactions in Hong Kong, but they're useful if you're working in a Cantonese-speaking environment or dealing with more serious matters.

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How people respond to apologies in Cantonese

  1. When someone apologizes to you in Cantonese, the most common response is 唔緊要 (m4 gan2 jiu3), which means "it's okay" or "no worries." The pronunciation is "m gan yiu" with the same humming "m" sound at the start.
  2. Another casual response is 冇事 (mou5 si6), which literally means "no problem" or "it's nothing." This one's super common among friends and in informal situations.
  3. For more formal contexts, people might say 唔使客氣 (m4 sai2 haak3 hei3), meaning "no need to be polite" or essentially "don't worry about it."

Knowing these responses helps because you'll hear them all the time, and it's good to understand what people are saying when you apologize.

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Comparing Cantonese and Mandarin apologies

If you've studied Mandarin Chinese before, you might notice some similarities and differences.

In Mandarin, the common apology is 对不起 (duìbuqǐ), which looks similar to the Cantonese 對唔住 when written in traditional characters.

However, the pronunciation is completely different because Cantonese and Mandarin are distinct languages with different sound systems. The Mandarin version has four syllables with different tones, while the Cantonese m4 zyu6 structure is unique to Cantonese.

The Mandarin equivalent to 唔好意思 is 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi), which is actually closer in pronunciation. But again, the tones and exact sounds differ between the two languages.

Understanding these differences helps if you're learning both languages or traveling between Hong Kong and mainland China, where Mandarin is more commonly spoken.

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Practice phrases with sorry in Cantonese

Here are some complete sentences you can practice:

  • 對唔住,我遲到咗。
    Sorry, I'm late.
  • 唔好意思,請問洗手間喺邊度?
    Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
  • 真係對唔住,我唔記得咗。
    I'm really sorry, I forgot.
  • 唔好意思,唔該借借。
    Excuse me, please let me through.

These practical examples show how the apology phrases fit into real conversations. Notice how the context makes it clear which phrase is appropriate.

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Video resources for learning Cantonese apologies

Honestly, reading about pronunciation only gets you so far. Watching video tutorials where you can hear native speakers makes a huge difference.

YouTube has tons of Cantonese learning channels that cover basic phrases including apologies. Look for channels that focus on Hong Kong Cantonese specifically, since there are regional variations in pronunciation and usage.

Many videos show the romanization (usually Jyutping, which is what I've been using here with the numbers for tones) alongside the Chinese characters, plus English translations. This triple approach helps you connect the sound, the written form, and the meaning.

Some channels also include cultural context about when to use each phrase, which is super valuable. You can learn the words anywhere, but understanding the social situations where they fit takes more explanation.

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Common mistakes when saying sorry in Cantonese

  1. One mistake learners make is using 對唔住 for everything. Remember, this is for actual apologies where you're at fault. Using it to excuse yourself when walking past someone on the street sounds weird and overly serious.
  2. Another issue is tone pronunciation. Cantonese has six to nine tones depending on how you count them, and getting the tones wrong can change meanings or just sound off to native speakers. The good news is that for these common phrases, people will usually understand you even if your tones aren't perfect.
  3. Some learners also try to directly translate English apology patterns into Cantonese, like saying "I'm sorry for your loss" using these basic phrases. That doesn't really work. Cantonese has specific expressions for different types of sympathy and condolence that go beyond simple apologies.

Anyway, if you're serious about learning Cantonese or any other language, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words instantly while watching shows or reading articles in your target language. Makes immersion learning way more practical than just studying phrase lists. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

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Learn Cantonese with Migaku
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Learn Cantonese vocabulary in contexts

As your Cantonese improves, you'll pick up more nuanced ways to express regret, make excuses, or explain what went wrong. But these two fundamental phrases, 對唔住 and 唔好意思, will remain your most-used apology tools. Learning them through video explanations does not take too much time or effort, yet the result can be very rewarding.

If you consume media in Cantonese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.

Every little bit of learning counts!