In Cantonese, 對不起 (duìbuqǐ) is 對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6) for a real apology, and 唔好意思 (m4 hou2 ji3 si3) for small ones. The rule: Mandarin uses one word for most apologies; Hong Kong splits them by weight. 對唔住 means "I was in the wrong", 唔好意思 means "excuse me, sorry for the bother". The Mandarin characters still exist as 對不起 deoi3 bat1 hei2, but you mostly see them on signs and in writing. Paste pinyin into the pinyin converter to check tone marks along the way.
| If you'd say (Mandarin) | Say (Cantonese) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 對不起 duìbuqǐ (sorry) | 對唔住 deoi3 m4 zyu6 | A real apology; you did something wrong |
| 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi (excuse me, sorry) | 唔好意思 m4 hou2 ji3 si3 | Same build, 不 becomes 唔; the everyday small sorry |
| 借過 jièguò (let me through) | 唔該借借 m4 goi1 ze3 ze3 | Squeezing past someone; no apology needed |
| 請問 qǐngwèn (excuse me, may I ask) | 請問 cing2 man6 | Same word; locals often start with 唔該 first |
| 抱歉 bàoqiàn (I apologise) | 抱歉 pou5 hip3 | Formal: emails, notices, staff speaking to customers |
| 道歉 dàoqiàn (to apologise) | 道歉 dou6 hip3 | The verb, as in "you owe him an apology" |
| Situation | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing someone on a crowded MTR | 唔好意思 or just "sorry" | Small slip; English "sorry" is everyday Hong Kong speech |
| Getting past people to the door | 唔該借借 | You are asking for space, not forgiveness |
| A few minutes late to meet a friend | 唔好意思，遲咗 | "Sorry, I'm late" (see 咗 vs 緊) |
| Broke a friend's phone | 真係對唔住 | "I'm really sorry"; real fault calls for 對唔住 |
| Getting a waiter's attention | 唔該 | Not an apology at all; see 唔該 vs 多謝 |
| A shop notice or formal letter | 對不起 / 抱歉 | Written register; this is where 對不起 lives |
Using 對唔住 for every bump and brush. Mandarin speakers reach for duìbuqǐ by reflex, but in Hong Kong 對唔住 owns up to real fault, so saying it for a tap on the elbow sounds heavier than you mean. 唔好意思 or a quick "sorry" fits the small stuff. The opposite slip: reading 對不起 aloud in conversation. People understand you, but it sounds like a notice on the wall, not a person.
More learner answers on the FAQ page; next Mandarin bridges: méi guānxi, xièxie, zàijiàn, or browse all Mandarin-to-Cantonese guides; classic mix-ups: 唔該 vs 多謝, 唔 vs 冇, ni hao in Cantonese.
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