How to Say “I am busy” in Chinese
Work and study · HSK 2
"I am busy" in Chinese is 我很忙 (wǒ hěn máng). 我很忙 (wǒ hěn máng) is the standard "I am busy". The softer 有点忙 (yǒu diǎn máng, "a bit busy") is used as a polite decline.
Primary translation
我很忙
wǒ hěn máng
Variants by register
Casual
有点忙
yǒu diǎn máng
When to use it
我很忙 (wǒ hěn máng) is the standard "I am busy". The softer 有点忙 (yǒu diǎn máng, "a bit busy") is used as a polite decline. To explain the source of busyness use 最近 (recently): 最近工作很忙 (I have been busy with work recently). 改天吧 (gǎitiān ba, "another day") pairs with a busy-decline to leave the door open for a future meeting.
Example sentences
我今天很忙。
Wǒ jīntiān hěn máng.
I am very busy today.
最近工作有点忙。
Zuìjìn gōngzuò yǒu diǎn máng.
Work has been a bit busy recently.
我现在忙，改天吧。
Wǒ xiànzài máng, gǎitiān ba.
I am busy now, another day please.