How to Say “Excuse me” in Chinese
Greetings and politeness · HSK 2
"Excuse me" in Chinese is 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si). Chinese has two "excuse me" flavours. 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi) is the soft conversational "excuse me / sorry" for getting attention, bumping past someone, or breaking up a conversation.
Primary translation
不好意思
bù hǎo yì si
Variants by register
Formal
请问
qǐng wèn
When to use it
Chinese has two "excuse me" flavours. 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi) is the soft conversational "excuse me / sorry" for getting attention, bumping past someone, or breaking up a conversation. 请问 (qǐngwèn, "may I ask") is the formal opener for asking strangers questions; shop staff, passersby, reception desks. 让一下 (ràng yíxià, "please let me through") is the dedicated phrase for squeezing past in a crowd.
Example sentences
请问，地铁站在哪里？
Qǐngwèn, dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the subway station?
不好意思，借过一下。
Bù hǎoyìsi, jiè guò yíxià.
Excuse me, could I pass through?
让一下，谢谢。
Ràng yíxià, xièxie.
Please let me through, thank you.