Arguments & Apologies
intermediate争论与道歉
Learn to express disagreement, describe emotions during conflict, apologize sincerely, and resolve misunderstandings in Chinese.
37 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
37 words — click any row for an example sentence
Disagreeing
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 不同意 | bù tóngyì | to disagree | verb |
| 反对 | fǎnduì | to oppose; to object | verb |
| 争论 | zhēnglùn | to argue; argument; debate | verb |
| 吵架 | chǎojià | to quarrel; to have a fight (verbal) | verb |
| 误会 | wùhuì | misunderstanding; to misunderstand | noun |
| 抱怨 | bàoyuàn | to complain | verb |
| 指责 | zhǐzé | to blame; to accuse | verb |
| 矛盾 | máodùn | conflict; contradiction | noun |
Emotions
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 生气 | shēngqì | angry; to get angry | adjective |
| 失望 | shīwàng | disappointed; to be disappointed | adjective |
| 委屈 | wěiqu | to feel wronged; aggrieved | adjective |
| 伤心 | shāngxīn | sad; heartbroken | adjective |
| 难过 | nánguò | upset; sad | adjective |
| 着急 | zháojí | anxious; worried; in a hurry | adjective |
| 后悔 | hòuhuǐ | to regret | verb |
| 冷静 | lěngjìng | calm; to calm down | adjective |
Apologizing
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | sorry; I am sorry | phrase |
| 我错了 | wǒ cuò le | I was wrong | phrase |
| 原谅 | yuánliàng | to forgive | verb |
| 道歉 | dàoqiàn | to apologize; apology | verb |
| 不好意思 | bù hǎoyìsi | sorry; excuse me (lighter apology) | phrase |
| 故意 | gùyì | on purpose; intentionally | adverb |
Resolving
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 和好 | hé hǎo | to make up; to reconcile | verb |
| 理解 | lǐjiě | to understand; understanding | verb |
| 沟通 | gōutōng | to communicate; communication | verb |
| 让步 | ràngbù | to make a concession; to compromise | verb |
| 解释 | jiěshì | to explain; explanation | verb |
| 包容 | bāoróng | to be tolerant; tolerant | verb |
| 面子 | miànzi | face; dignity; reputation | noun |
| 台阶 | táijiē | steps; a way out (to save face) | noun |
| 信任 | xìnrèn | trust; to trust | noun |
Expressions
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 算了 | suàn le | forget it; let it go | phrase |
| 无所谓 | wúsuǒwèi | it does not matter; whatever | adjective |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it is okay; never mind | phrase |
| 忍 | rěn | to endure; to hold back | verb |
| 改 | gǎi | to change; to correct | verb |
| 在意 | zàiyì | to care about; to mind | verb |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
对不起，是我的错。
Duìbuqǐ, shì wǒ de cuò.
I am sorry. It is my fault.
The most direct and sincere way to admit fault and apologize.
你别生气了，好吗？
Nǐ bié shēngqì le, hǎo ma?
Please do not be angry, okay?
Trying to calm someone down during or after a conflict.
我不是故意的。
Wǒ búshì gùyì de.
I did not do it on purpose.
Explaining that a hurtful action was unintentional.
请给我一个机会解释。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yī ge jīhuì jiěshì.
Please give me a chance to explain.
Asking to be heard before being judged.
我们好好谈谈吧。
Wǒmen hǎohāo tántan ba.
Let us have a proper talk.
Suggesting a calm conversation to resolve conflict.
这件事是我做得不对。
Zhè jiàn shì shì wǒ zuò de bú duì.
I was wrong about this.
Taking responsibility for a specific mistake.
我以后不会了。
Wǒ yǐhòu bú huì le.
I will not do it again.
Making a promise to not repeat the mistake.
我们都冷静一下。
Wǒmen dōu lěngjìng yīxià.
Let us both calm down.
Suggesting a pause when a conversation is getting too heated.
算了，过去的事就别提了。
Suàn le, guòqù de shì jiù bié tí le.
Forget it. Do not bring up the past.
Choosing to move forward and let go of past issues.
我能理解你的感受。
Wǒ néng lǐjiě nǐ de gǎnshòu.
I can understand how you feel.
Showing empathy during a disagreement.
我们不要互相指责了。
Wǒmen búyào hùxiāng zhǐzé le.
Let us stop blaming each other.
Calling for a more constructive approach to conflict.
我原谅你了。
Wǒ yuánliàng nǐ le.
I forgive you.
Accepting an apology and choosing to let go.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
A Couple's Quarrel
Xiao Li forgot their anniversary, and her boyfriend Xiao Wang is upset. They have a heated discussion and eventually resolve things.
Speaker A
你知道今天是什么日子吗？
Speaker B
今天？周三啊，怎么了？
Speaker A
今天是我们在一起一周年的纪念日，你忘了吗？我真的很失望。
Speaker B
啊，对不起！最近工作太忙了，我真的忘了。你别生气了，好吗？
Speaker A
你总是这样，每次都说忙。你心里到底有没有我？
Speaker B
当然有！我知道这件事是我做得不对。我以后一定会记住每个重要的日子。
Speaker A
算了，我不想再吵了。你以后真的要注意。
Speaker B
我答应你。今天晚上我请你吃大餐，补过纪念日，好不好？
Cultural note: In Chinese relationships, anniversary dates (纪念日 jìniànrì) are taken very seriously. Forgetting one is a common source of arguments. Notice how the apology follows a pattern: acknowledging the mistake (我知道错了), explaining it was not intentional (工作太忙), promising to change (我以后一定会记住), and offering to make up for it (请你吃大餐).
Resolving a Misunderstanding Between Friends
Xiao Zhang saw a message on Xiao Chen's phone and misunderstood the situation. They have a conversation to clear things up.
Speaker A
小陈，我有话想跟你说。你是不是在背后说我坏话了？
Speaker B
什么？我什么时候说过你坏话？你从哪里听说的？
Speaker A
我看到你发给别人的消息了，你说"小张这个人太较真了"。
Speaker B
等一下，这是一个误会！那条消息说的不是你，是另一个姓张的同事。
Speaker A
真的吗？那我误会你了。
Speaker B
没关系，我理解你的感受。换了我，看到那条消息也会不开心。
Speaker A
对不起，我不应该没有先问你就下结论。以后有什么事我会先跟你沟通。
Speaker B
没事，我们是好朋友，有什么话直接说就行。和好了！
Cultural note: In Chinese culture, resolving misunderstandings between friends often involves giving the other person face. Notice how Xiao Chen does not get defensive but instead says "我理解你的感受" (I understand how you feel), and Xiao Zhang admits their mistake openly. The phrase "和好了" (we have made up) signals that the conflict is truly over.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Arguments & Apologies Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
35 of 37 words appear in HSK levels